Amazing run: Western Sydney Wanderers' Mark Bridges competes for the ball against Wellington Phoenix at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images
WESTERN Sydney Wanderers set an A-League record at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.
Their 2-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix was their ninth straight, the longest streak in the league's history.
But the questions are being asked.
Would a loss do them good? Are they going off the boil?
The Wanderers had taken the competition lead by beating defending premiers, the Central Coast Mariners, the week before.
By common consensus, the Mariners had played the better soccer and created more chances, but the Wanderers had found a way to win; the hallmark of a team with self-belief.
The Wanderers had to rely on penalties on Sunday, the first dubious and the second deserved, to beat the last-placed Wellington and, outside of the red and black bloc, no-one could say they were the better team.
The Wanderers are now five points clear on top from the Mariners and certainly have momentum.
But would a loss to the Melbourne Heart this Saturday act as a safety valve, releasing them from pressure and the weight of expectations?
There's no doubt every home game has become an event in the place now christened Wanderland.
There were 15,809 at the stadium on Sunday, compared with the 13,351 to see the Parramatta Eels beat the Warriors on Saturday.
"That secures us a home semi-final for these fans, and they thoroughly deserve to have a big game at this stadium," said coach Tony Popovic.
That big game is two matches away — the sell-out last round against Sydney FC.