The Phoenix are playing three home games at the Hutt Recreation Ground due to Westpac Stadium being used for the Cricket World Cup. It was a venue tailor-made for football, with its bleacher-style seating and closeness to the pitch, and attracted a near-sellout crowd of 9232 yesterday.
"I think a lot of people got their money's worth," Merrick said. "So it was a great spectacle overall."
Wellington will host the lowly Newcastle Jets at their adopted home in Lower Hutt next Sunday and Adelaide United on March 7.
Melbourne employed a physical approach yesterday and six of their players were shown yellow cards as they looked to knock the Phoenix around.
It was a tactic that served Western Sydney well last week and Merrick expected Newcastle to arrive with a similar game plan next weekend.
"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."
Merrick believed the officials didn't do enough to deter seventh-placed City away from their negative approach. "They had six yellow cards and I thought more should have been done."
The Phoenix could be without right back Louis Fenton next week after he was struck in the jaw by a fierce shot on goal and slumped to the ground. He was replaced by Michael Boxall, who put in a reliable shift during the final 40 minutes.
Merrick said after the game that Fenton was concussed and would be monitored. Boxall would be a likely replacement.
City lost a player of their own yesterday as former English Premier League regular Damien Duff went off with an injury in the ninth minute after feeling something pop in his leg.
His departure disrupted City's flow in attack and caused a reshuffle in their side.
The draw left the Phoenix in fourth position on the table.
Wellington Phoenix 0
Melbourne City 0
