Babbel can see bright future despite Wanderers' struggles

A defiant Markus Babbel says the Western Sydney Wanderers are on the right track and will be ‘one of the Hyundai A-League’s best clubs’, despite another loss on Tuesday night.

The Wanderers showed great resilience to fight back twice before going down 3-2 to Wellington Phoenix at a wet ANZ Stadium.

It was the club’s fourth straight defeat at home and keeps them seven points outside the top six after 12 matches.

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Unless results can turn soon, it looms as a second straight season without finals football for the club.

But despite their on-field struggles, Babbel has no doubt the Wanderers will be a force again soon.

"At the moment it's very, very hard, the only good thing for me and what gives me confidence, and really stay positive, is the picture of the club," Babbel said.

"You can believe me, in the future this club will (be) one of the best clubs in the league.

"Of course the results are not going in the right way, but the club is going in the right way.

"The only thing I can say to our supporters - because of course they are also frustrated like us - see the picture for the future will be fantastic."

Compounding matters for the Wanderers are injuries to their two marquee men, with Alexander Baumjohann (hamstring) and Oriol Riera (groin) both limping out of the loss to Wellington in the first-half.

The pair are unlikely to be right for the clash with league-leaders Perth Glory on Sunday.

While it’s worrying times for the Wanderers, things couldn’t be better for Wellington who snatched the late win thanks to Roy Krishna’s second-half double.

The result moves the Phoenix up to fifth spot on 19 points after a seventh successive game without defeat, which equals a club record.

"Records, that sort of stuff, it really doesn't bother us, it's not a focus for us," coach Mark Rudan said.

"For u,s it's about building, but it's a long way to go in terms of where we can get to."

Wellington returns home this weekend to take on the last-placed Mariners.

Midfield duo Mandi and Alex Rufer will miss the clash through suspension.