Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay is publicly urging Oskar Zawada to step up and become the team's No.1 penalty taker as they attempt to bounce back from last week's nightmare against Macarthur.
The Phoenix have missed all four of their penalties this A-League Men season, including two in the space of a few minutes in their 2-1 loss to Macarthur last Sunday.
Brazilian Yan Sasse and star Polish striker Zawada both had their penalties saved by Bulls goalkeeper Filip Kurto, while Kosta Barbarouses and Bozhidar Kraev missed their respective chances earlier this season.
After Zawada missed his penalty attempt against the Bulls, he allowed Sasse to take the next spot kick.
But Talay wants Zawada to be the man at the spot if Phoenix are awarded another penalty this season, starting with Friday night's clash with Western United in Tasmania.
"I think (Sasse taking the second penalty) was a decision made on the park at that time," Talay said.
"Yan came up to me and asked me 'Can I take it'. And I said, 'Go for your life mate'.
"He was the one that was feeling brave and bold to step up and take it.
"(But) Oscar's our top goalscorer at the moment, and for me I'd like him to step back up.
"If we do get another opportunity in the game, then (I hope) he steps up and takes it."
Talay also wants his team to become mentally stronger.
Wellington have dropped 20 competition points from winning positions this season, the most in the league.
"I'm not a psychiatrist, I'm still a coach. I try to mentor the players the best I can," he said.
"We went through some presentations this week with the players on how to handle it.
"This season, I think every time the team has been expected to do well or win, especially against teams below us, we've struggled.
"It's not that we've played some bad football. We play some good football and take the lead, and then we've allowed the opponent to come back into the game.
"That's something we definitely need to rectify."
Wellington have slipped to sixth on the back of consecutive losses, but Talay is backing his team to secure a top-four berth.
Defending champions Western United are second last on the table, but they are still a chance to secure a finals berth given they sit only five points behind Wellington.
