With just 13 games to go in the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, Vere Phoenix United Head Coach Lenworth Hyde says his team has to overcome a handful of issues in their bid to stave off relegation.

The third and final round of the JPL regular season kicks off today with 13th place Vere hosting third place Montego Bay United at the Wembley Centre of Excellence.

The Clarendon-based club, which was taken over by the Craig Butler-operated Phoenix Academy last summer, has struggled throughout the first 26 games, registering just four wins. Vere are currently on the worst run in the league as they’ve failed to a win in a game in their last 10 games and also have the league’s worst defensive record with 52 goals conceded.

They’ve only kept three clean sheets with the last coming against fellow Clarendon club and league’s bottom-placed club Humble Lion on January 5.

After suffering their 15th defeat of the season on Monday in a 2-0 loss to Arnett Gardens, Hyde says their defensive displays need massive improvement.

“We not defending properly, and as a team so we need to fix that,” he said. “The transition from offence to defence not working. We’re not running to get back in defence and that’s why we’re giving up so many goals in the league. The most goals have been scored on us in the league so defensively, that’s a problem that we need to fix.”

Despite sitting in the relegation zone with 19 points, Vere are just three points from safety and just five points away from 10th place.

While admitting the team’s youth being a disadvantage, Hyde remains confident that they can avoid the drop.

“We have to try, it’s the only thing we can do right now or we’ll be relegated,” he said.

“Our aim now is to just go and see how we can get maximum points out of these 13 games. The teams in front of us, we’re behind by two or three points, so you can win two games and propel yourself up the ladder.

“We just have to keep concentrated and let the players believe. We have an inexperienced team which is hurting us. We haven’t gotten used to the pace of the league as yet so we’re trying our best to get that chemistry going.”

Sunday’s Games

Vere vs Montego Bay United – 3:30 pm @ Wembley Centre

Portmore United vs Mount Pleasant – 3:30 pm @ Ferdi Neita

Humble Lion vs Cavalier – 3:30 pm @ Effortville

Tivoli Gardens vs Molynes United – 3:30 pm @ Edward Seaga Complex

Harbour View vs Chapelton Maroons – 3:30 pm @ Harbour View Stadium

Waterhouse vs Racing United – 6:00 pm @ Drewsland Stadium

Monday’s Game

Arnett Gardens vs Dunbeholden – 7:45 pm @ Anthony Spaulding