Football: Phoenix's season in the balance

Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick. Photo / Getty Images

The Wellington Phoenix could finish the A-League's regular season with the Premiers Plate or in fifth place.

This competition continues to surprise and with three rounds and a couple of games to go, your guess is as good as anyone's with regards to the make up of the standings come playoff time.

Six teams will make the knockout stages, five of them have been decided and their finishing positions could go any way given they're only separated by a handful of points.

The Phoenix remain in that dogfight in third place but their chances of claiming a maiden Premiers Plate took a devastating blow when they were beaten 3-0 by the Melbourne Victory in Wellington last night.

It marked the second-straight home loss by such a margin after Sydney FC did a number on them in the previous round and the Phoenix are in urgent need of a win.

The Victory took the lead in the opening minute yesterday and never looked like losing to a Phoenix side who struggled to contain one of the title favourites.

Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick felt the difference between the teams was the Victory's big-match experience.

"I see positive signs in there," Merrick said of his side. "It's easy to look for all the negatives that happened but I see a lot of good positives there."

Victory coach Kevin Muscat didn't want to anoint his team as potential Premiers Plate winners given there was still a few rounds to go.

"Collectively, to a man, everyone performed close to their best," he said. "We had to be a lot more patient than we probably usually are."

The Phoenix have been hamstrung by international commitments and injuries in the past couple of weeks but that's a reality of professional sport.

Veteran striker Joel Griffiths became the latest Phoenix player to suffer an ailment when his knee bent in ways it shouldn't after he landed awkwardly in the first half of last night's game.

More will be known on his status when scans are completed today but Merrick said it was the most damaging aspect of the loss to the Victory.

There's a chance he could be out for the rest of the season, which takes away one of their attacking options either as a starter or an impact player. Kenny Cunningham has been desperate for an opportunity though, which looks to be coming his way.

Vince Lia (hamstring), Ben Sigmund (leg) and Albert Riera (suspension) were all absent yesterday but should return for Sunday's trip to Melbourne City, a clash which looms as hugely important for the Phoenix.

Finishing fifth on the ladder would force them on the road in the playoffs but a top-four spot would give them home advantage in the first week. A top-two finish would be their ideal result as no side has ever won the A-League from outside the top two.

Merrick said despite the recent heavy defeats, the Phoenix hadn't become a bad team overnight.

"I'm working more on their heads than I'm working with the ball and if I can get their heads up, and I think I will, and we approach next week with a very positive outlook, I think we will do well."

Melbourne Victory 3 (Gui Finkler 1, Andrew Durante 59 og, Archie Thompson 66) Wellington Phoenix 0 HT: 1-0