The Yellow Fever delight in taking their shirts off if the home side are leading after 80 minutes, but didn't need to adjust their attire. Some of them might have felt like hiding behind it as Wellington conceded two late goals. Boos rang out at the final whistle.
The Phoenix had talked about turning the corner after last week's fighting 1-0 win away in Perth but the corner remains unturned. They are a side that seems to lack confidence and it's difficult to improve that when you ship goals as easily as Ricki Herbert's side.
They have now leaked 25 goals in 14 games and can't expect to trouble the top of the table with a return like that.
It's difficult to know where Herbert can turn. There are few options at the back and three of the four he played last night are current internationals, while the fourth was on the verge of Australian selection last season.
Too often they were exposed at fullback, as Michael McGlinchey and Josh Rose found space down the flanks, and the back four aren't playing as a unit.
In contrast, the Mariners have conceded just eight goals in 12 games and sit comfortably in third.
In fact, Central Coast could climb to the top of the table if they win their two games in hand. They aren't a side full of stars, but they are playing with a confidence lacking in the Phoenix and play a fluid passing game backed up by honest toil.
They dominated from the outset and caused a series of nervous moments for Wellington goalkeeper Mark Paston as he firstly saw All Whites team-mate Michael McGlinchey blaze over a good chance.
He was fortunate to punch a deflected shot over the bar and then parried another around the post. But Paston couldn't do anything about a curling Josh Rose shot in the 17th minute.
At the other end, it took nearly 30 minutes for the Phoenix to get a shot on goal. They rely on getting the ball down the flanks to Paul Ifill or Leo Bertos but it also requires good crosses - and when that doesn't happen, they struggle.
Wellington had a good period on either side of the break as Andrew Durante, in his 100th A-League game, twice went close and Simon Elliott and Chris Greenacre both hit the woodwork but capitulated as Rose and then Adam Kwasnik scored late.
The Phoenix are in danger of needing a similar run to last season's. At the moment they don't seem capable of getting anywhere close.
