I had a dream that the Wellington Phoenix beat the Asian Champion Western Sydney Wanderers. It was at Westpac Stadium, and Mickey McGlinchey scored a second half hat-trick, all gorgeous curling efforts cutting in on his right foot. Then for some reason I was on the field and then I was talking to my old maths teacher and he was berating me for not doing my homework. I was sitting in class (how did I get here?) and I was thinking, ‘Man, I finished school years ago, I shouldn’t have to do this!’. So I got up and left, or maybe the bell rung, either way I walked home - only it wasn’t home I was walking to but the beach and next thing I’m playing chess with Brad Pitt but he’s way better than me and I’m getting thrashed. Suddenly there’s a tidal wave and it’s 50 feet tall and headed straight for Brad and I and there’s no time to react and it’s gonna swallow us whole and is this the way I die!?

I woke up with a sharp intake of breath and immediately realised how untrue that all was, but at least I had that snippet of the Phoenix game. Some may call it prophetic, even, as that very evening that very team beat that very opponent at that very stadium, albeit only by the one goal. And it wasn’t McG who scored it but Nathan Boourns. In fact, McGlinchey even missed a penalty, a soft, lame effort that the always impressive Ante Covic comfortably saved. Who cares? We were already winning.

It was an unchanged lineup for the Nix. The same XI that narrowly lost to The Wictory on Monday. A short turnaround, though nothing as arduous as Western Sydney, who’ve been shooting around Asia and back for the last few weeks.

Both teams had a few opportunities and once again it was a worry just how little the two highest playing men, Burns & McG, were able to link together, each preferring to peel off towards their respective wings. That did create a little bit of room for RolyPoly Bonevacia charging forward, though it didn’t lead to much. He’s a dangerous player, Roly, the way he can turn on a dime. Dare I say it, there’s more than a little of the immortal Paul Ifill about that…

Again there were some slick passing moves from the Nix. Some seriously pretty moves that no doubt solicited some strange, involuntary noises from the Yellow Fever Faithful. There was also some crap. Taking on guys and getting caught in possession. Not that it cost us too much. Passing and possession were pretty even, with WSW having the very slight advantage, and we were much better in this game at not handing over the ball like free samples at Pak ‘N’ Save. Both teams tried to build up from deep with a lot of short passes and therefore neither created much. There were only 4 shots on target, of them 3 from the Nix.

But just as the game opened up with the introduction of Jeremy Brockie to anchor the attack against Melly, the same happened with the injection of Roy Krishna on Friday night. Those two guys are the only pure strikers Ernie has to choose from and I’m not sure that he trusts either of them for 90 mins. So maybe this more conservative, three deep forwards formation is how we’ll play for 70 then the last 20 we go more direct? Anyway, Krishna made an immediate impact and in the 79th rotation of the match clock, he got on the end of a nice through ball from Roly and slipped a sitter into the path of Burnsy.

Just in time for shirts off and the jet-lagged Wanderers didn’t have an equaliser left in the tank.

A wonderful result against a very good team. We’ve already won 3 of 5, and Burns is tied for top scorer in the league with 4 (along with Andy Keogh & Besart Berisha). It’s the best start to a season in the history of this club. COME ON YOU NIX!

The negative was losing Louie Fenton with another dislocated shoulder. His season ended prematurely last time because of that very same injury, except this time it appeared to be his other shoulder. Both he and Tommy Doyle have had to pull out of the All Whites squad. Michael Boxall should be able to fit in nicely on the right side of defence next game but this was a really tough thing to see for a young player trying to establish himself. Get well soon, Louie.

And a short shout out to Albert Riera, who never seems to be hurried, never seems to be in trouble and never seems to give the ball away. Every week he could legitimately be the Man of the Match, he’s just that good. And to think that Alby just turned up in this country as a backpacker! Who needs scouts?

Who Are Ya? Bula vinaka, my name is Roy Krishna. 27 year old Fijian forward, played for Waitakere and Auckland City in the ASB Premiership, winning the golden boot in 2012/13. Debuted for the Nix as an injury replacement for Paul Ifill and did well enough to get a full time contract. What up, Roy? Keep playing like that off the bench and you won’t need an introduction. Pace and positivity, you’ve got those and things will happen.