Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick believes the scorching heat in Cairns was a major contributor to their 2-1 A-League loss to the Brisbane Roar last night.
Temperatures peaked at 33 degrees and 60 percent humidity during the match in which the Phoenix led before halftime, only to wilt over the final 20 minutes.
Merrick was gobsmacked when the Football Federation Australia doctor tried to stop mid-game drinks breaks.
He said the more the game went on the more the players struggled.
Merrick said they went down a man before the match started as Tom Doyle was vomiting due to the heat.
