Leo Bertos and Michael McGlinchey were not in winning A-League teams in round nine action but All Whites coach Ricki Herbert would have taken plenty of heart from the efforts of the two players likely to fill the wide midfield roles in Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Bertos turnedin a man-of-the-match performance as the Wellington Phoenix played out a scoreless draw away to Gold Coast United.
It was a disappointing fifth straight - record-equalling - draw for the Phoenix, their sixth such result of the season.
The only positives for the Phoenix were in creating more chances, 10-5 and more corners, 4-3, than their opponents who had the only shot of the match on target and led the possession stakes by a massive 59 per cent to 41.
McGlinchey played in central midfield for the Central Coast Mariners in their 1-0 loss to new leaders Sydney FC in yesterday's early game.
A goal down - to a 22nd minute Terry McFlynn header - at halftime, the visitors, led by hard-working McGlinchey, forced the pace in the second half but could not breach a resolute Sydney defence.
Sydney sneaked a point ahead of Melbourne Victory who got home 2-1 over Brisbane Roar 2-1 at Etihad Stadium.
Perth Glory surged to within a point of the lead with their 1-1 home draw with North Queensland Fury in a game not without controversy.
After a scoreless first half, notable for the sending off of Fury midfielder Ufak Tallay in the 45th minute for a second yellow card when referee Ben Williams flashed a second yellow, then red, card for diving the goals came.
Mile Sterjovski put Perth ahead four minutes after the break when he was brought down by John Tambouras and then got up to slot the penalty.
Tambouras was not done with however. His 72nd minute powerful close range header was ruled by Williams to have been carried back over his line - under a challenge - by Perth goalkeeper Paul Henderson to earn the Queenslanders a share of the spoils.
This weekend's scheduled match between the Phoenix and Newcastle Jets in Wellington has been postponed because of the World Cup qualifier and will be played midweek on November 4.
