DRAB AFFAIR: Louis Fenton of the Phoenix controls the ball under pressure from Iain Ramsay of Melbourne City.

The goals have dried up for the Wellington Phoenix, who were held scoreless for the second straight week in a 0-0 stalemate with Melbourne City today.

A curious crowd of 9232 piled into the Hutt Recreation Ground, the Phoenix's temporary home for three games while Westpac Stadium is off limits during the Cricket World Cup.

They witnessed a classic game of two halves, with City having the better of the first 45 minutes and the hosts coming home with a wet sail in the second.

But, as in last week's 2-0 loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers, the fourth-placed Phoenix were unable to break down a resolute defence and they remain winless since the Asian Cup break.

The point lifts them level on 29 with Adelaide United, who hold third place thanks to a superior goal differential.

Wellington were a little lacklustre in the first 60 minutes but while they roared into life in the final half an hour, the good chances they created were spurned.

Roy Krishna was a chief culprit: the Fijian striker tripping over his own feet when through on goal in the 67th minute, scuffing a tap-in in the 79th then firing wide in added time as the crowd got antsy.

It was a rough and tumble match, with referee Chris Beath reaching regularly into his pocket and groggy Phoenix right back Louis Fenton helped off the field after David Williams fired a bullet shot into his face.

Fenton's replacement, Michael Boxall, put himself about well and for a moment loomed as an unlikely matchwinner before his 87th minute shot was blocked by some desperate City defending.

There were plenty of other half chances - Alex Rodriguez having his volley deflected just wide, Nathan Burns appealing for a penalty and Michael McGlinchey misfiring with a header - but it wasn't to be.

The Phoenix would have been relieved to go into the halftime sheds at 0-0 with City having the better chances in front of goal and nine shots to the hosts' four.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss was forced into two sharp saves as Aaron Mooy was a constant threat pulling the strings from midfield and towering striker Josh Kennedy - making his first start for City - a real handful for centre backs Ben Sigmund and Andrew Durante.

Following back-to-back road losses, Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick went on the offensive with Rodriguez replacing the defensively-minded Vince Lia in midfield.

But apart from a few promising patches, the Phoenix were unable to implement their passing game and City's more direct approach looked far more likely to reap dividends.

City's Irish star Damien Duff lasted just eight minutes before limping off and to be replaced by Iain Ramsay but it didn't prevent the visitors from making an assertive start.

Moss made a fingertip save to deny Kennedy's shot, with the target-man put through one-on-one by the excellent Mooy.

City, stung by their 3-0 derby defeat to Melbourne Victory, were just that little bit sharper, a little more desperate and Moss was again called into action with a great reflex save after a scramble in the box from a free kick.

The Phoenix earned a few corners but they struggle to score from set-pieces and their frustrations were illustrated as McGlinchey let fly with a long-range speculator.

They pulled up their socks in the second stanza but couldn't apply the polish.