If ever Southern United is going to get off the bottom of the ladder, today could be the day.
The Dunedin-based team plays Wellington Phoenix in Wellington today, a team just one point ahead in the ASB Premiership.
Southern United's only win this season was against the Phoenix, when it won 1-0 at Forsyth Barr Stadium last November.
With games against league leaders Auckland City and Canterbury United to come, an 11th loss today would all but condemn Southern United to the wooden spoon.
``It's a massive game for us,'' coach Mike Fridge said. ``We have to be confident, a draw is not good enough, we want to win.
``I've been drumming it into the players during the week, let's treat it as a cup final. Let's get out there and we're going to win it.''
Southern United will have to do it without the injured Ross Howard (knee) and Josh Stewart (ankle), while Stu Kelly (suspended) and Tom Connor (work commitments) are also unavailable.
Kelly copped an automatic one-match suspension after picking up two yellow cards within the first 15 minutes in last week's 3-0 loss to Wellington in Dunedin.
The first card was for a hand ball, before a mistimed challenge saw him head off for an early shower.
``I didn't think the first one a yellow card, to be honest,'' Fridge said. ``I have no dispute with the second one . . . but the first yellow was very harsh.
``The referee told me that he put his hand above his head to stop a goal-scoring opportunity. I watched it on TV, freeze framed it, load of rubbish.
``When you're down at the bottom, you don't get any luck.''
But a bit of bad luck has been far from the only problem this season. A lack of goals is the biggest concern.
Southern United has found the back of the net just six times in 11 games, 11 fewer than the Phoenix. Auckland City has scored the most (32) in the league.
Fridge conceded the team struggled to create opportunities, a problem compounded by the team's inability to take the few chances it does create.
``We got beat 2-1 by WaiBOP United, but with six minutes to go Tom McBride misses a free header inside the six-yard box to get us a point,'' Fridge said.
``When we got beat 3-0 by Hawkes Bay, Seamus Ryder and Andrew Mobberley missed two chances inside the six-yard box. It was harder to miss them than to score them.''
Southern United has not scored the past two games, but that should change against the team that has conceded more goals than any other team this season.
The Phoenix has leaked a whopping 33 goals, one more than Waitakere United and two more than Southern United.
Today's match is Southern United's third to last match of a ``very, very difficult season'', one that could see it finish last for a second-consecutive year under Fridge's control.
``It's been very stressful at times,'' the second-year coach said. ``But I've got nothing but praise and admiration for the players that are still here. They don't get paid, their attitude in turning up to training, they try the best they can and I can't ask for anything else than that.''
Southern United v Wellington Phoenix, Wellington, today, 1pm
Southern United: Tom Batty, Shawn O'Brien, Jack Caunter, Seamus Ryder, Andrew Ridden, Sam French, Lewis Jackson, Zane Green, Harley Rodeka, Alex Williams, Ben Kiore, Michael Hogan, David Hayman, Morgan Day, Hamish Cotter.
Wellington Phoenix (probable): Lewis Italiano, Oliver Whyte, Logan Rogerson, Tamupiwa Dimairo, Oliver Sail, Luke Tongue, Sarpreet Singh, Ruairi Cahill-Fleury, Liam Wood, Sam Philip, Joe Bell, Cherbel Khouchaba, Louis Evans, Liam Hare.
