Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell believes his unbeaten side still needs to find a ruthless edge and finish off opponents when they have them on the ropes.
The Glory may have beaten Wellington 2-1 on Sunday at nib Stadium, but they scored the first two goals before allowing the Phoenix back into the contest when Ben Sigmund nodded home a 72nd-minute free header.
As has been the case in many Glory games over the past few years, fans were left on the edge of their seats as Wellington launched a series of raids late in the match.
And, they all breathed a sigh of relief as some lightning reflexes from Tando Velaphi denied Chris Greenacre from seven metres out, the Glory stopper taking the sting off the 83rd-minute shot, allowing Naum Sekulovski to clear off the line.
It was hardly the most convincing of finishes, but the coach was still glad to take the points.
"We made it hard for ourselves I think," admitted Mitchell.
"We created quite a few chances. We didn't capitalise on them and Wellington always had a lot of threat in their side and as soon as they got the goal back it was like, sit on your seat and hold on 'cause they threw a lot of balls into the box and they could have bounced anywhere."
"We scored the second goal (and) we thought we've got the game won now, because we've been good at keeping clean sheets at certain times."
"Obviously we didn't and that's something to address."
"When you've been so dominant and create so many chances - and we didn't put them to the sword - that's when it comes back to bite you on the backside. That could have happened today and fortunately it didn't."
The coach was still happy with his side's first hour, however, and specifically with Mile Sterjovski who was at the heart of almost every Glory forward move, the recently retired Qantas Socceroo scoring in the fifth minute and setting up Robbie Fowler's goal in the 61st.
Mitchell refused to say it was Sterjovski's best game for the club, but said it was certainly one of the bravest as the striker played the full 90 minutes despite suffering from an ankle injury that was originally meant to keep him out until next week.
"He was outstanding tonight up front," Mitchell said.
"He sort of hobbled on a little bit and was carrying the injury in the second half and we just said, 'look we need you to stay on', 'cause there was a few other players suffering."
"It was a bit of grit and determination from him as well that made him stay on."
Despite the pain on Sunday, Sterjovski appeared a totally different player to the somewhat subdued force that limped through last season as his goal against Wellington gave him three for the campaign so far.
And, free from the burdens associated with Qantas Socceroos selection, Sterjovski believes he's now mentally prepared to shine for his club.
"I'm really enjoying my football and I'm enjoying my time here, so it all comes together and I think it shows in my performance," Sterjovski said.
"It definitely is mentally as well. There was a lot of things going on last year that not many people know about for sure, but that's all gone now and i can just concentrate on the football."
"I'm really enjoying my time at the moment and I'm hoping that it continues."