Returning to Wellington after taking their circus on the road for a few weeks, the Phoenix and their fans were expecting some pre-Christmas loving. A big game against Sydney FC offered the prospect of another signature #SaveTheNix  performance, what was displayed wasn't quite the razzling, dazzling footy that bumps up the metrics and attracts viewers across the land though.

What I love about sport is that there's beauty in games where two good teams come up against each other, limiting the influence of key play-makers and offering a certain defensive intensity that simply doesn't allow an 'attractive brand' of footy to be played. For much of this 1-1 draw Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix were locked in a chess match with both teams pressing in an organised fashion, scrambling and covering well while also eager to stick a boot in or in Louis Fenton's case give a shirt a blatant tug, to slow an opposition attack.

Summing up this game was the late equalizer for the Nix as Roy Krishna earned a free-kick on the left from which Tom Doyle was fouled in the box as the free-kick swung into the mixer. Mr Faty for Sydney was all over Doyle and a penalty was award, Krishna slotted it. Rugged, slightly cynical and class, all in three plays.

Goals, flair, pizzazz and all of that is nice - we did get some of it - yet a the Niche Cache we are fond of defence. Both strikers set the tone, well as much as strikers do with Roy Krishna and Matt Simon efficient in their pressure, both sets of defenders were rugged while a player like Mickael Tavares did a great job in keeping Roly Bonevacia quiet, as was the case last time these two teams met. 

Bonevacia was limited to 26 total passes and 42 touches, which was well down on last week's 42 passes and 66 touches. Watching two fine defensive-midfielders (Tavares and Albert Riera) organise and shut down was a joy - that's my favourite position and they were both lined up against top shelf play-makers. Filip Holosko scored Sydney's goal with this effort, oozing class all over the Wellington pitch...

Bugger that Holosko fella who responded to questions about being Sydney's 'marquee signing' and not really producing the goods with a sound game against our Nix. Why couldn't he just save it for next week ya know? For all my defence talk, Tom Doyle picks up a knock as Holosko gets the ball, leaving that hole for Holosko to skip into.

Glen Moss was the best player on the park for the Nix, saving a penalty and generally being a boss. Other than that it was a 6/10 performance from the Nix going forward, that lack of connection between the attacking players was once again evident - when the Nix aren't at their best, each attacking player whether Roly, McGlinchey or Krishna looks isolated too often. 

Moss is always in the starting side, which is nice because after a few weeks of trying to figure out the best starting team for the Nix, I'm a bit confused about how that looks. Fenton and Tom Doyle started on the flanks this week and they are both players who love to steam up the sideline which is nice, my only question is regarding their cavalier nature which can leave our defence exposed. This is fine when one player's the cavalier and one kicks back, when they both love to go forward it does create opportunities for opponents to attack into. In saying that, with Riera posted in front of Andrew Durante and Manny Muscat there's always that triangle of safety ... hence I'm confused. 

Things only got more confusing as Fenton went off the field injured and Troy Danaskos came on at right-back. So far we have seen Fenton, Doyle, Muscat, Danaskos and Matt Ridenton play either fullback, so I guess we have depth which has helped absorb Ben Sigmund's absence. Hopefully soon we'll see two blokes given the job so combinations and chemistry can be developed. Danaskos looked alright by the way.

This could be helped by Vinnie Lia's return as he played a few late minutes. Lia and Riera hold down the midfield while the two fullbacks bomb forward is a lot better than only Riera.

I don't think there's many stories with a kiwi sporting roster more interesting than Jeffrey Sarpong who started this game. Sarpong did feed a few nice passes (one beauty along the carpet in particular), unfortunately he also struggled last night in many games before this with what must be considered basics. It's frustrating watching Sarpong lose possession thanks to a poor first touch or a mediocre pass, not only does this severely hinder attacking movements for the Nix, the case for Sarpong The Flop continues to build.

I like Sarpong and I really, really hope that he finds a position of comfort just in time for the business end of the season. There's an undeniable similarity to Bonevacia in which you can imagine an attacking front-four of Sarpong, Bonevacia, McGlinchey and Krishna - tell me that doesn't get you excited. 

If you want a Christmas wish, or perhaps a Christmas Eve wish, maybe a Boxing Day wish, possibly a New Years wish ... whatever excuse for a wish you need, wish that Sarpong flicks the switch.

A win would have been ideal and a draw felt like a fair result, bias aside. This was a game between two good teams with two smart coaches and enough attacking moments to feed the fire. Adelaide on Boxing Day, in Adelaide so I guess an away win will be a nice way to see out 2015.