Ifill proves good investment

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

STRIKER: Paul Ifill.

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The jury is clearly still out on the Wellington Phoenix but, after five rounds, there is enough evidence to arrive at a verdict on Paul Ifill the import striker has the goods.

The English-born Barbados international has impressed his team-mates and the Westpac Stadium crowds with his work-rate, touch, ability to beat players and, crucially, a good eye for goal.

And it appears the feeling is mutual. Ifill, whose partner, Elle, and three-year-old daughter, Romy, have also arrived the capital, has nothing but praise for his new home and even the weather.

"Wellington is a great city, I've settled in well and I'm really enjoying being here at the moment."

On the field, Ifill, who scored his second goal of the season, then had a well-taken match-winner controversially disallowed against Adelaide on Friday, admits he couldn't have made a better start to his stint with the Phoenix. But he believes he can offer more starting with Sunday's away trip to Melbourne Victory.

"I do [feel like I'm winning the crowd over], just doing what I normally do, but I haven't set any goals up yet and I'd like to make a few more chances for Greenie [Chris Greenacre]," Ifill said.

"The grafting work he has been doing has enabled me to get the headlines. He gives me and Leo [Bertos] a bit of freedom so it would be nice to repay the favour.

"If we can add a little bit more performance-wise, I think we'll have a good season, because there is plenty more to come, just in terms of runs that me or Greenie or Leo might make.

"We've only played together for five games so we're not going to know each other inside out. I think that will come."

The Phoenix have made an indifferent start to the A-League at times looking the goods, at times looking extremely vulnerable, as evidenced by the Adelaide match.

Ifill said consistency would be key, describing their start to the season as "average". He thought they needed to defend better, especially from set-pieces, and make better use of scoring opportunities.

"If we can get that side of things sorted and nick a few 1-0 wins on the road, I think the home games will take care of themselves."

And on his "goal that wasn't" against Adelaide, Ifill battled hard to hold his frustration back and still cannot understand the ruling

"It would've taken [the linesman] three seconds to keep his flag down. Greenie's not involved, I score, we win the game 2-1. It's just annoying because they should know better.

"It's a simple rule in the scheme of things but it's up to us to make sure that it doesn't cost us in the end."

The Phoenix have a disrupted week, with six players and coach Ricki Herbert on international duty. They meet up with the rest of the squad in Melbourne on Saturday.