Soccer: Herbert upbeat about draws

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert is taking a positive view on his side's record six consecutive draws. Photo / Getty Images

Befitting the World Cup soccer fever building in Wellington, Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was giving a positive spin yesterday to his side's A-League record six consecutive draws.

An 84th-minute header from North Queensland Fury's star import Robbie Fowler saw the Phoenix leave Townsville with a 1-1 draw and sole ownership of the A-League record, beating Melbourne's five in the 2007-08 season.

It left the Phoenix with one win from 10 matches.

"It's one [record] we've got that nobody else has got. You could say we're the hardest team to beat in the league.

"I think we've lost the least amount of games. We're just looking for that three-pointer," Herbert said.

The Phoenix at least broke their goal-scoring drought, which stretched to almost 270 minutes, when Tim Brown headed home to put them in front in just the sixth minute before a crowd of 6200 at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

But they must soon start to rack up wins or risk dropping completely off the pace, with Gold Coast visiting Wellington next Sunday followed by leaders Sydney (away), Newcastle (home) and Perth (home), all before the All Whites' soldout World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Wellington on November 14.

"We go home now and get three out of the next four at home so hopefully the Yellow Fever [supporters] can drive us home for one," Herbert said.

The Phoenix had five players - Brown, Leo Bertos, Mark Paston, Ben Sigmund and Tony Lochhead - backing up from the All Whites' 0-0 draw in Bahrain a week ago, which was followed by four separate flights home then another two to Townsville.

Brown said the travel had its effect.

"I don't think we really played well enough in the second half and North Queensland were deserving of their equaliser, so it's disappointing," he told Fox Sports.

"We've done a ton of travelling and my legs were starting to go in the second half, but that's no excuse, that's part of the job and North Queensland played well."

The Fury finally got their act together and dominated the second half.

There was a moment of controversy in the 67th minute after a Phoenix injury break, when the Fury's Ufuk Talay didn't observe normal protocol at the restart and knocked the ball through for McBreen, who somehow shot over the bar with Paston off his line.

Furious Phoenix players clashed with their opposites at the apparent lack of sportsmanship and referee Chris Beath had to step in.

- NZPA