The victory the Wellington Phoenix claimed from A-League front-runners Brisbane Roar under the roof in Dunedin midweek was as much a triumph for coach Ricki Herbert as his players.
Herbert has come under fire at times this season with his tactics often challenged by those on the outside looking in. In the early stages of Wednesday's game those naysayers would have again being sharpening their talons.
But to his credit Herbert quickly fathomed Ange Postecoglou's game plan, made the adjustments and he and his players went away happy with a deserved 2-0 victory.
The visitors pushed high, played a flat back four intent on springing the offside trap. Twice those tactics came unstuck and the Nicky Ward-Paul Ifill double act cashed in to leave former Football Kingz goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos stranded in no man's land.
Tactically, it was a victory for Herbert over one of the most astute coaches in the league who has seen his empire crash with three successive losses since the 4-0 win which stretched their unbeaten run under Postecoglou to 35 matches.
