KEY POINTS:
The rash of tight games and low scoring continues to highlight the competitiveness of the third A-League season.
The weekend's ninth round followed a season-long pattern. Three games were won by the odd goal, the fourth drawn 1-1. Little surprise then, the average goals per game scored in 36 matches thus far is just 2.1.
The 1-1 draw in the round opener between Newcastle Jets and Queensland Roar was the 15th game this season not to produce a result, with four of the eight teams now having played out five draws in a season still not at the halfway point.
But if the fans are turned off by the low goal count and the failure of teams to win, the attendance figures are not reflecting that.
The four Hyundai A-League weekend matches drew crowds from 25,598 at the Telstra Dome to watch Melbourne Victory hold on to beat Perth Glory 2-1 in a game in which all the scoring action came in the first half, to a round low, but still highly commendable, 10,562 at Westpac Stadium as the Wellington Phoenix stumbled to a 2-1 loss against league leaders Central Coast Mariners.
Despite this loss - the third successive defeat by that score - the fans continue to support Ricki Herbert and his team. Their average crowd for five home games is 11,743, comfortably ahead of Perth Glory and Central Coast and not far behind Adelaide and Newcastle Jets.
But such an encouraging start in the attendance stakes must quickly be backed with results on the field. With just two wins in nine outings and now facing games away in Adelaide and Perth, on one road trip, and then Brisbane, the Phoenix must start gathering points or they will quickly fail to be a contender.
At least Herbert should have a full (injury-free) squad to select from.
After conceding their now seemingly obligatory early goal and forced to play catch-up, the Phoenix rallied bravely to get back to 1-1 before blowing it with another defensive blunder which handed Central Coast's Sasho Petrovski a gift-wrapped fourth goal of the season and part of a four-way share of the golden boot lead.
But for an earlier penalty miss, Petrovski could have finished the round as the season's leading scorer.
Another concern for Herbert must be the rash of yellow cards his players are collecting. The five they copped from Australian referee Peter Green on Sunday was the worst of the round.
Melbourne Victory have the early chance to leap up the table when they return to Telstra Stadium on Friday night to play the Jets in the 10th-round opener. Both teams are on 14 points, three back from the Mariners and separated only on goal difference.
The match of the round should be the Mariners, again on the road, against disappointing Sydney FC early on Sunday.
The Phoenix play Sunday's late game against Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium
