THE Wellington Phoenix ended a tumultuous week with a deserved 1-0 A-League win over the Melbourne Heart in Dunedin today.
Jeremy Brockie scored in the first half to give the competition's bottom club their first win since they beat the Perth Glory 1-0 in Auckland on February 2.
Wellington finished with 10 men after striker Stein Huysegems received a second yellow card late in the match for a tackle on Simon Colosimo.
The result left the Heart winless for their 16th consecutive away game stretching back to 2011.
Phoenix went into the game after a week in which coach Ricki Herbert's resignation was followed by a 2-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets on Wednesday night but dominated today at Forsyth Barr Stadium and probably should have won by more.
Wellington made the early running, Brockie and Huysegems both hitting the bar and Ben Sigmund heading the ball into the ground in front of goal.
They went in front after 19 minutes when Brockie volleyed home a cross from Paul Ifill for his 14th goal of the season.
Phoenix had a golden chance to go two up three minutes later but Huysegems hit the left-hand upright after goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne narrowed the angle.
The home side had a clear edge in possession and territory in the first half but were unable to make capital, missing at least six clear-cut chances.
The second spell started in a similar vein to the first, Sigmund and Ifill both heading over the net.
Heart began to threaten midway through the second spell, but the Phoenix defence, backed by a small but noisy crowd of 4000, was equal to the task
Jeremy Brockie scored in the first half to give the competition's bottom club their first win since they beat the Perth Glory 1-0 in Auckland on February 2.
Wellington finished with 10 men after striker Stein Huysegems received a second yellow card late in the match for a tackle on Simon Colosimo.
The result left the Heart winless for their 16th consecutive away game stretching back to 2011.
Phoenix went into the game after a week in which coach Ricki Herbert's resignation was followed by a 2-1 loss to the Newcastle Jets on Wednesday night but dominated today at Forsyth Barr Stadium and probably should have won by more.
Wellington made the early running, Brockie and Huysegems both hitting the bar and Ben Sigmund heading the ball into the ground in front of goal.
Phoenix had a golden chance to go two up three minutes later but Huysegems hit the left-hand upright after goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne narrowed the angle.
The home side had a clear edge in possession and territory in the first half but were unable to make capital, missing at least six clear-cut chances.
The second spell started in a similar vein to the first, Sigmund and Ifill both heading over the net.
Heart began to threaten midway through the second spell, but the Phoenix defence, backed by a small but noisy crowd of 4000, was equal to the task
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