Wanderers extend A-League lead Coach Tony Popovic has reminded his charges they've "achieved nothing" after Western Sydney extended their lead atop the ladder on Sunday, beating Wellington 2-1 at Parramatta Stadium to post an A-League record-breaking ninth consecutive victory. Japanese star Shinji Ono and striker Mark Bridge both scored from penalties for the Wanderers, with Jeremy Brockie getting one back for the visitors. The win puts the Wanderers five points clear of Central Coast on the table and means they surpass the league's all-time longest winning streak of eight straight matches set by Melbourne Victory in the inaugural season. It also secures them a top-two finish and a home semi-final in the playoffs with third-placed Victory 10 points behind Central Coast with three games remaining. But the ever-grounded Popovic won't be letting his team get carried away. "You can go on unbeaten runs but to win nine in a row is quite special," he said. But like everything at this club at the end of the year we'll reflect on a great milestone, there have been many this year, but we have not achieved anything yet so we'll reflect on that when the season ends. It was hardly the thumping most were expecting as the bottom-placed Phoenix managed to match it with the ladder-leaders for most of the game in front of a 15,8009-strong crowd. The vocal Red and Black Bloc were unusually quiet for the first 20 minutes of the match as they staged a silent protest on behalf of a number of members they believe have been unjustly banned by Football Federation Australia over various incidents including the lighting of flares and anti-social behaviour. Popovic admitted his side played below their usual level. "I think all teams now will take a result over a performance," he said. We've said all along if your performances are good we believe the results will come. Today wasn't our best ... but I'm happy they won that game at all costs. Brockie scored his 15th goal of the season for Wellington to join Central Coast's Daniel McBreen at the top of the goalscorers' list. The loss rules the Phoenix out of the finals but interim coach Chris Greenacre, who took over from Ricki Herbert last month, was more than pleased with his side's showing. "I just said to the players how proud I am of them - their effort, their endeavour, their will to want to take the game to Western Sydney," he said. I'm just disappointed with the result. But now with the burden (of playoffs) off the shoulders we'll release the shackles and let the players express themselves and just enjoy playing in the last two games.