The Wellington Phoenix hit up Sydney, coming up against the Western Sydney Wanderers who have so far had a bit of a bummer of a season. It wasn't the end of the world, not quite showing up with their best effort against the Brisbane Roar last week and it's not quite the end of the world going down 2-0 to the Wanderers.

First of all, Nix fans should all take a moment to smile, celebrate and appreciate the work of these lads. It's not easy going on the road especially against the Wanderers who have swiftly established a hearty group of fans and do this.

Sure, it didn't quite result in a win but we must all pay our respects to these lads for representing on the road while we sit in our lounge, chill out and watch on the telly.

The Nix dominated most of the game against the Wanderers but finished the game with a duck which definitely wasn't ideal. Some of this had to do with our attacking players lacking a quality touch or a quality finish or even that quality final pass to give the receiver that extra second on the ball to slot it home. But some of it also must be put down to the Wanderers defending admirably, desperately and smothering the majority of slight chances that the Nix created.

In that sense, this game sucked because the Nix couldn't get any points which isn't what you want at this point of the season. For me, it was our centre backs who summed up the game as a whole with their performance and it started off delightfully as Ben Sigmund delivered a excellent long ball over the top, creating an early opportunity. But when the Wanderers went forward, their attacking players always looked to have the jump on Sigmund and Andrew Durante who were often left clutching at thin air, or waving their hands around. Late in the game, it was these two lads who got in each other's way at the back post and scuffed an opportunity. They looked at each other like 'wtf mate?', perfectly encapsulating a Sunday arvo in Penrith for the Nix.

I guess it just wasn't the Nix's day, which is me giving them the benefit of the doubt which they definitely earned throughout that Sunday arvo in Penrith. Some of the attacking play was sublime, purely sublime and a lot of this stems from the movement of the front three - Roy Krishna, Nathan Burns and Michael McGlinchey. They can all plug a hole any where on the pitch which allows them to move freely which must be an absolute bitch to mark, throw in to the mix the speed of Burns and Krishna and they're able to move from a non-threatening space to picking the ball up 1 v 1, ready to break your ankles.

They confidence of the Nix is also awesome, they don't think twice passing the ball in to crowded space because the likes of Roly Bonevacia and McGlinchey are gifted technically. They throw the ball in to the middle of the field, whether it be at the top of the box or closer to half way and are then able to recycle the ball and push it out wider where space has been created. Remember when the Nix wanted to play attractive football? Yeah well, box ticked.

It wasn't all doom and gloom defensively either. The pace of Burns and Krishna up front allow them to put pressure on fullbacks and cover spaces while the Wanderers counter attacked many a time only to find a strong triangle of Albert Riera, Sigmund and Durante in the middle of the field.

The only major issue for me is the spot that was occupied by Vince Lia and then Alex Rodriquez. Lia looks to be a level below the rest of the starting crew and is always up for a shitty pass or a turnover, but Rodriquez came on and served up a mixed bag as well. Hopefully one of these lads will really stamp their mark on the squad and demand selection because there's just that final piece missing.

The Wanderers defended well, but I think the Nix also lack an aerial threat up front. Obviously we don't really have someone to fill that void, but we look great streaking down the flanks, putting up 23 crosses (WSW had 13) only for them to result in nothing. We don't have much of an aerial threat, so defenders can sort of gear themselves up for the movement of Krishna or Burns or McGlinchey, knowing that the cross will be to their feet.

Who Are Ya!? Louis Fenton mate, loving your pace down that right flank which resulted in plenty of the crossed I mentioned above. The Nix don't loose a great deal though when Michael Boxall comes on at right back though, so it's good to see plenty of options.

Nek Week the Nix take on Melbourne City who had a 3-0 loss in the Melbourne derby and are sitting in 7th. We've slipped down to 4th and the only thing the Nix should really be worried about this week is goals, let's bang some goals in.