The Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick admits his side was well beaten as they went down 5-nil to Melbourne Heart in their A-League fixture in the capital on Sunday.
The Heart remain bottom of the table, but have now won three in a row and are just five points behind the seventh-placed Phoenix.
It is the Heart's first win in New Zealand, breaking a 22-game winless streak away.
Merrick says the visitors closed them down especially in midfield and scored some outstanding goals.
He says they were well beaten and have no excuses.
The Phoenix are away to the Central Coast Mariners next weekend.
