You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine from News Talks EDB, News Talks AB.

You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine from News Talks EDB, News Talks AB.

It's nineteen away from three. The Wellington Phoenix women's side back at home this afternoon in a League women's action. They take on Perth Glory at Pottidoor Park with the kickoff at four. The Phoenix are currently seventh on the ladder, but just one point outside the top six. Perth Glorious currently sitting in ninth position. Phoenix striker Olivia Ferguson scored her first goal for the club and last weekend's two to one defeat away at league leaders Melbourne City.

It's nineteen away from three. The Wellington Phoenix women's side back at home this afternoon in a League women's action. They take on Perth Glory at Pottidoor Park with the kickoff at four. The Phoenix are currently seventh on the ladder, but just one point outside the top six. Perth Glorious currently sitting in ninth position. Phoenix striker Olivia Ferguson scored her first goal for the club and last weekend's two to one defeat away at league leaders Melbourne City.

An Apple's giving away cheaply Jarly fumbles and there it is, Olivia Ferguson gets on the score sheet. As I was mentioning being dangerous at times from City to work their way out and Wellington punished them. Poor pass from me Res out straight to Jarley and ready and waiting was Olivia Ferguson her first goal and the all important first goal of this game.

An Apple's giving away cheaply Jarly fumbles and there it is, Olivia Ferguson gets on the score sheet. As I was mentioning being dangerous at times from City to work their way out and Wellington punished them. Poor pass from me Res out straight to Jarley and ready and waiting was Olivia Ferguson her first goal and the all important first goal of this game.

Olivia Ferguson as well us now thanks for taking the time, Blovia, despite the result obviously not going your way a week ago. How satisfying. Was it to score your first goal for your new club?

Olivia Ferguson as well us now thanks for taking the time, Blovia, despite the result obviously not going your way a week ago. How satisfying. Was it to score your first goal for your new club?

Hello, Yeah, I think the result was obviously disappointing, but the whole team performance, we felt like we deserve to get something out of the game. For me, getting my first goal was really important. For anyone that's seen the goal, it was probably of the easiest ones off score or season, but sometimes you just need one like that to get off the mark. I would have preferred it if it would have counted towards some points at the end of the game. But yeah, we keep moving forward and we're really pleased with Howard performed in the game. Well.

Hello, Yeah, I think the result was obviously disappointing, but the whole team performance, we felt like we deserve to get something out of the game. For me, getting my first goal was really important. For anyone that's seen the goal, it was probably of the easiest ones off score or season, but sometimes you just need one like that to get off the mark. I would have preferred it if it would have counted towards some points at the end of the game. But yeah, we keep moving forward and we're really pleased with Howard performed in the game. Well.

One of the old editors about goals is that they all count for one regardless of how they come. Is a striker, how important is it for you to contribute with goals even though your all around performances have been good. How important is it to also chalk up goals for the side?

One of the old editors about goals is that they all count for one regardless of how they come. Is a striker, how important is it for you to contribute with goals even though your all around performances have been good. How important is it to also chalk up goals for the side?

Yeah, definitely. I think when you were number nine and you're playing in that position, you do carry that responsibility. It's good for us that we've had goals from across the pitch and I do fill my performances. They're adding a lot of value even without goals. But yeah, I do take that responsibility on my shoulders and I want to be scoring, and yeah, it's really good to be off the mark and hopefully I can find a bit of slow now in front of goal.

Yeah, definitely. I think when you were number nine and you're playing in that position, you do carry that responsibility. It's good for us that we've had goals from across the pitch and I do fill my performances. They're adding a lot of value even without goals. But yeah, I do take that responsibility on my shoulders and I want to be scoring, and yeah, it's really good to be off the mark and hopefully I can find a bit of slow now in front of goal.

It was a narrow defeat and a good performance, as you've outlined, and it came off the back of a four game and beaten streak. So over the last four or five games, what particularly do you think has been going really well for the side.

It was a narrow defeat and a good performance, as you've outlined, and it came off the back of a four game and beaten streak. So over the last four or five games, what particularly do you think has been going really well for the side.

Yeah, I think we've found some really good momentum. I think that's everything in football, really positive performances individually but also as a collective. I think we've really been buying into what poor Temple has been asking us to do. Tactically. We've managed to make tweaks dependent on the opposition, which has been really good for us. And yeah, I think momentum is the most important thing, but I also don't think we've lost that with the defeat. I think we'll carry on going. Our performance was really good and we were unlucky not to get something out of the game in the end.

Yeah, I think we've found some really good momentum. I think that's everything in football, really positive performances individually but also as a collective. I think we've really been buying into what poor Temple has been asking us to do. Tactically. We've managed to make tweaks dependent on the opposition, which has been really good for us. And yeah, I think momentum is the most important thing, but I also don't think we've lost that with the defeat. I think we'll carry on going. Our performance was really good and we were unlucky not to get something out of the game in the end.

Just a nine goal scored in eight games for the side. You've been good defensively, but just nine goals scored. How hard are you working on creating more chances and scoring more goals.

Just a nine goal scored in eight games for the side. You've been good defensively, but just nine goals scored. How hard are you working on creating more chances and scoring more goals.

Yeah, we always are. We're working on that in training and finishing as well. I think ultimately, you know, if we're struck tight at the barket, can only take one goal to win a game. So yeah, tightening up defensively was one of our targets after the first couple of games and then getting that momentum with the wins. You know, we haven't been scoring lots of goals, but we've done enough to get the results, which is the most important thing.

Yeah, we always are. We're working on that in training and finishing as well. I think ultimately, you know, if we're struck tight at the barket, can only take one goal to win a game. So yeah, tightening up defensively was one of our targets after the first couple of games and then getting that momentum with the wins. You know, we haven't been scoring lots of goals, but we've done enough to get the results, which is the most important thing.

In the attacking third. And it maybe lends itself to what you mentioned before about technically tweaking things for different oppositions. You've started the last five games, but the likes of Grace Jarlay in the main, Alissa winnerm and others have been sort of rotated in and out of the side and used and impact roles. Has that been challenging at all for you or are the connections there regardless of who's on the field.

In the attacking third. And it maybe lends itself to what you mentioned before about technically tweaking things for different oppositions. You've started the last five games, but the likes of Grace Jarlay in the main, Alissa winnerm and others have been sort of rotated in and out of the side and used and impact roles. Has that been challenging at all for you or are the connections there regardless of who's on the field.

Yeah, no, I don't think so. Obviously, we train together full time in the world, so we have those connections, and I think those players that have been used as impact players has been brilliant off the bench and we have a big week coming up where we'll need to use everybody across the three games. But yeah, no, we all connect really well no matter who's on the pitch.

Yeah, no, I don't think so. Obviously, we train together full time in the world, so we have those connections, and I think those players that have been used as impact players has been brilliant off the bench and we have a big week coming up where we'll need to use everybody across the three games. But yeah, no, we all connect really well no matter who's on the pitch.

You played for a long time in the UK, why did you decide to make the move to the other side of the world and link up with Wellington Phoenix.

You played for a long time in the UK, why did you decide to make the move to the other side of the world and link up with Wellington Phoenix.

Yeah, I guess that's the question a lot of people have asked me. I've played in England for quite a while. I just fanted a different challenge. The A League was exciting to me coming across to New Zealand and experience in a different culture, meeting different people was also exciting to me, just a life experience. But yeah, the A League and playing for Phoenix was definitely what pulled me here. Just a different challenge.

Yeah, I guess that's the question a lot of people have asked me. I've played in England for quite a while. I just fanted a different challenge. The A League was exciting to me coming across to New Zealand and experience in a different culture, meeting different people was also exciting to me, just a life experience. But yeah, the A League and playing for Phoenix was definitely what pulled me here. Just a different challenge.

Really, as a new player to the A League, have you had to do a bit more work in the background to familiarize yourself with the players and the teams that you're coming up against for the first time.

Really, as a new player to the A League, have you had to do a bit more work in the background to familiarize yourself with the players and the teams that you're coming up against for the first time.

Yeah, definitely. I think our staff have been really good with that, with the level of information we get given before games anyway, but it can be a positive as well, that little bit of naivety, especially when you play against the bigger teams and bigger name players, just that bit of bravery and freedom without any expectations.

Yeah, definitely. I think our staff have been really good with that, with the level of information we get given before games anyway, but it can be a positive as well, that little bit of naivety, especially when you play against the bigger teams and bigger name players, just that bit of bravery and freedom without any expectations.

Really, and here's the phane. It's been an easy team for you to fit into. Culture wise, the playing group, the coaching staff for the you know, living in Wellington.

Really, and here's the phane. It's been an easy team for you to fit into. Culture wise, the playing group, the coaching staff for the you know, living in Wellington.

Yeah, I'm having such an amazing time. It's such a great group. All the girls are lovely, the staff are lovely. It's been one of the easiest places for me to settle, even though it's so far away from home. But yeah, it really does feel like home already. Everyone's been so welcoming and so nice.

Yeah, I'm having such an amazing time. It's such a great group. All the girls are lovely, the staff are lovely. It's been one of the easiest places for me to settle, even though it's so far away from home. But yeah, it really does feel like home already. Everyone's been so welcoming and so nice.

So can your family and friends back home watch the games, presuming they can pick them up somewhere.

So can your family and friends back home watch the games, presuming they can pick them up somewhere.

Yeah, they are managing to watch them. The biggest issue is the time difference. My dad's having to get up at three am to watch the game. Sometimes you'll send me a myth after the game with what he thought about the game, and it's just spelling mistakes everywhere. He's type a silly hour in the morning. But my dad and my granddad are actually over here now in Wellington and they'll be they'll be at the game today, so that'll be really nice.

Yeah, they are managing to watch them. The biggest issue is the time difference. My dad's having to get up at three am to watch the game. Sometimes you'll send me a myth after the game with what he thought about the game, and it's just spelling mistakes everywhere. He's type a silly hour in the morning. But my dad and my granddad are actually over here now in Wellington and they'll be they'll be at the game today, so that'll be really nice.

Fantastic. Oh, that's great. That's typing will be a lot better and they can probably just tell you after the game rather than rather than send you a message. That's terrific stuff. That's parental dedication and wonderful. You mentioned before about the busy week ahead after Perth Glory this afternoon, you've got a game on Thursday away at Western Sydney and then Adelaide on Sunday. So with the slightly busier week, does that change the way that you structure a week with three games in it.

Fantastic. Oh, that's great. That's typing will be a lot better and they can probably just tell you after the game rather than rather than send you a message. That's terrific stuff. That's parental dedication and wonderful. You mentioned before about the busy week ahead after Perth Glory this afternoon, you've got a game on Thursday away at Western Sydney and then Adelaide on Sunday. So with the slightly busier week, does that change the way that you structure a week with three games in it.

Yeah, I guess. So we'll be training most days as we normally have a day off, but we need to use every day that we have to get the tactical information in. I do think the group's in a really good place. I think we've got the balance right between enjoying the new year and Christmas but also being in and we'll obviously be needing to use our depth across our squad, which I think we have really strong squad, and like we spoke about those players before who have kind of been rotated at times, we'll need everybody and they'll all be ready, I'm sure, all right.

Yeah, I guess. So we'll be training most days as we normally have a day off, but we need to use every day that we have to get the tactical information in. I do think the group's in a really good place. I think we've got the balance right between enjoying the new year and Christmas but also being in and we'll obviously be needing to use our depth across our squad, which I think we have really strong squad, and like we spoke about those players before who have kind of been rotated at times, we'll need everybody and they'll all be ready, I'm sure, all right.

And then so after these three games, that'll be the halfway point of the twenty two game regular season. This is probably a silly question to ask, but does Wellington feel like a top six side to you?

And then so after these three games, that'll be the halfway point of the twenty two game regular season. This is probably a silly question to ask, but does Wellington feel like a top six side to you?

Oh, definitely, I think looking at our performances, particularly in that unbeaten run of those four games. You know we've played Brisbane Raw, we've played Sydney Esty, we've played Melbourne Citty and we've had good performances and we've managed to get results in those games. You know, the table is so sorry, the ladder is so tight at the moment, and you know a result one way or another can leave you in tenth or fourth, so it's really exciting. We just concentrate on ourselves and I think by the end of the season, yeah, we can definitely be finishing in that top six.

Oh, definitely, I think looking at our performances, particularly in that unbeaten run of those four games. You know we've played Brisbane Raw, we've played Sydney Esty, we've played Melbourne Citty and we've had good performances and we've managed to get results in those games. You know, the table is so sorry, the ladder is so tight at the moment, and you know a result one way or another can leave you in tenth or fourth, so it's really exciting. We just concentrate on ourselves and I think by the end of the season, yeah, we can definitely be finishing in that top six.

Fantastic, Olivia, great to chat to you, all the best against Perth Glory. Really appreciate you taking the time.

Fantastic, Olivia, great to chat to you, all the best against Perth Glory. Really appreciate you taking the time.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Olivia. Olivia Ferguson there, English striker for Wellington Phoenix's women's side. Four o'clockick off this afternoon at Pottydor Park they take on Perth Glory. A busy week ahead, as you heard Olivia outline, there were three games in eight days.

Thank you, Olivia. Olivia Ferguson there, English striker for Wellington Phoenix's women's side. Four o'clockick off this afternoon at Pottydor Park they take on Perth Glory. A busy week ahead, as you heard Olivia outline, there were three games in eight days.

For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio