The new-look All Whites achieved a creditable 1-1 draw against China last weekend, but Wood, captain in place of injured Winston Reid, believes that effort will be wasted if his side does not show further progression.
New coach Anthony Hudson has challenged the youthful group – the team against China had an average age of just 21 years – with a different approach and style, and invigorated attitude.
“We will stick with the same formation and the same sort of game plan. We need to continue to keep working on what we did in China and to progress it in terms of our formation,” Wood said.
They meet Thailand in Korat in the early hours of Wednesday morning (NZ time), with their hosts ranked 30 spots below New Zealand on world rankings.
Thailand lost to China 3-0 away last month but beat the Philippines 3-0 at home as they build-up towards the start of the Asean Football Federation’s Suzuki Cup starting next month where they meet Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar in their group.
Wood is adamant that another good showing is needed to give further credibility to their effort against China.
“The next step is that we need to be winning games and this is the sort of game we need to be winning,” said Wood.
“The players know we need to step up. If we do not get a result against Thailand, then what we achieved against China means nothing. We need to stand up and be accountable. We need to progress and therefore we then we need to start winning. This would be a good place to start.”
Wood wants his young team to continue to move forward although he was impressed with their grasp of the high-octane, possession-based game they unwrapped against China.
“There’s nothing major to change but we need to keep progressing. We are just in the early stages of this formation in the lockdown so it is going to take a while but it is going in the right direction which is the main thing.”
The Leicester City striker, who headed home the equaliser against China, believes the team needs to be more clinical.
They have been analysing the recent Thailand matches to be prepared although their focus is on themselves to take another small step forward on the road to Russia in 2018.
Hudson will name his team tonight with the match kicking off at 12.30am NZ time on Wednesday and will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 2.
Thailand v All Whites
80th Birthday Stadium
Korat, Thailand
Wednesday 19 November, 12.30am (NZ time)
LIVE on SKY Sport 2
New Zealand (from): 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Bill Tuiloma, 7. Kosta Barbarouses, 8. Michael McGlinchey, 11. Marco Rojas, 12. Jacob Gleeson (GK), 14. Ryan Thomas, 15. Storm Roux, 16. Jeremy Brockie, 17. Tyler Boyd, 18. Tim Payne, 19. Michael Boxall, 20. Chris Wood (capt), 21. Cameron Howieson, 26. James Musa, 28. Joel Stevens, 29. Jesse Edge, 31. Dan Keat, 32. Oliver Sail (GK), 33. Kayne Vincent, 34. Adam Mitchell, 35. Deklan Wynne
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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