Perth Glory have become the surprise scoring kings of the A-League Men competition, but coach Alen Stajcic will be more than happy to settle for a 1-0 win against Wellington on Saturday night.
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Glory sit a lowly 10th on the ladder after compiling five wins, four draws and eight losses this season.
The 38 goals they've conceded this season is the second worst in the competition, behind only Brisbane's tally of 40.
But it's in attack where Glory truly shine with the side scoring a league-high 35 goals this campaign at an average of just over two per match.
Star striker Adam Taggart (12) leads the way for Glory, with handy cameos from Stefan Colakovski (6) and David Williams (4).
Glory's hot run in attack will face a huge test this week when they come up against the equal most miserly defence in the competition - Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington, like Melbourne Victory, have conceded only 19 goals in 18 games.
The Phoenix's defence has risen to another level over the past three matches, conceding only one goal.
The last time Wellington and Perth faced off, it was the Phoenix who walked away 4-3 winners in a seven-goal thriller.
Stajcic doesn't care if his team's high-scoring ways are subdued this Saturday night, so long as Glory win.
"I'd love a nice little one-niller just for once - our way," Stajcic said with a laugh.
Both teams enter Saturday night's match at HBF Park in hot form.
Since losing to Phoenix on January 14, Glory have snared three wins and two draws in the space of five matches to get back in the finals hunt.
Wellington sit five points clear on top of the table courtesy of an eight-match unbeaten run.
"We're probably the two most in-form teams at the moment," Stajcic said.
"The last time it was 4-3, and they hadn't conceded a lot of goals at that point.
"You just don't know what you're going to get on the night.
"They're playing to try to seal top spot in the league and we're fighting for our lives to try and start banging on the door of the final six."
Stajcic heaped special praise on Taggart, whose hot goalscoring run has proven crucial in Glory's revival.
With his co-captain Mark Beevers still injured on the sidelines, Taggart's leadership has also risen to another level.
"What's happened in the last month is that he's elevated his own leadership," Stajcic said.
"We can talk about the goals, he's always been a goalscorer, but just talking to other players in the group he's elevated himself as a leader in the group, on and off the pitch.
"I think that brings a whole new level of growth to a team."
Australian Associated Press
