Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick has called on his struggling team to inject some pride into their performance following Saturday's disheartening 4-0 A-League loss to Adelaide United in Wellington.
Down 2-0 after first-half strikes from Dylan McGowan and Stefan Mauk for the Reds, Wellington conceded a third when Bruce Djite found the net just four minutes into the second spell.
The Phoenix never looked like fighting back, and late sub Pablo Sanchez completed their misery with a cool 90th-minute finish to wrap up a win which catapulted Adelaide to the top of the A-League ladder.
Merrick was particularly unhappy with his ninth-ranked team's reaction after Djite's goal.
"I was really disappointed -- I thought our boys, a lot of them put their heads down," he said.
"There wasn't a lot of talk out there, there wasn't a lot of grunt. In the 18-yard box, we don't seem to have sharp people that are absolutely determined to score goals."
After finding the net nine times in their three last matches, Wellington reverted to the form that had earned them only six goals in the nine games before that.
There seemed to be a reluctance to put bodies on the line in search of goals, Merrick said: "There's a crowd come to watch us, let's play for the supporters and do something for the club."
Although Wellington's shortcomings at the sharp end of the field were evident, Merrick said there were also defensive problems which need addressing.
"We need to get a couple of good quality attacking players, but we need a couple of good defenders as well," Merrick said.
Wellington's hopes of making the top six and a spot in the playoffs are long gone, and Merrick said it seemed players were playing for a first 11 spot, or a position in the squad next year.
"But I don't think that's what they should be playing for, that fear. They should be playing to play good quality football, especially in front of their fans.
"I think they should play with a lot more pride."