Football: Phoenix coach fuming over physical approach of City

Speedy Nix forward Roy Krishna has come in for punishment from the opposition. Photo / Getty Images

Leave the little guys alone.

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has watched his players being manhandled for the past two weeks by opposition sides and he is sick of it.

Wellington's front three of Nathan Burns, Roy Krishna and Michael McGlinchey - all small men - have been roughed up recently and Merrick believes the A-League football referees are not doing enough to police it.

The latest case in point came on Saturday when the Phoenix were held to a 0-all draw by Melbourne City in Lower Hutt, in a match in which six City players were shown a yellow card. The referee's whistle was a regular feature in the game's soundtrack.

"They had six yellow cards and I thought more should have been done," Merrick said.

Western Sydney, who beat the Phoenix 2-0 across the Tasman eight days ago, were also successful in pushing the rules to the limit as their physical approach knocked the Phoenix off their game.

Given the tactic has proven successful for the opposition recently, Merrick predicted the Newcastle Jets would employ the same mentality when they meet the Phoenix at the Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt on Sunday.

"If I was Newcastle I would do the same thing because we've got really speedy players in attack. The only way to stop them sometimes is to foul them and if the referees allow it they should do it. It's worked twice."

Melbourne City coach John van 't Schip said his players weren't sent out with a directive to push the Phoenix around.

"There were a lot of close encounters and out of that the referee decided to give a few yellow cards and we have to deal with that," he said. "There were a few challenges [that were] maybe a bit late."

The City boss also felt midfielder Jacob Melling, who was one of the six recipients of a yellow card on Saturday, had become a target among officials.

The Phoenix, who remained in fourth place on the ladder after the stalemate, weren't without fault as Ben Sigmund and Roly Bonevacia were also cautioned during a physical game where both sides had their chances.

Wellington defender Louis Fenton suffered a concussion during the match after he was struck in the jaw by a bullet shot during the second half.

Merrick said Fenton would be monitored and there was a chance he could miss next weekend's game against the Jets.