Paul Ifill scored the only goal of the game with a rather flat Newcastle unable to find a way back into the match.

Herbert was proud of his team's win particularly in light of the heatwave conditions and the psychological state of the team after the euphoria of last week's World Cup qualification of the New Zealand national team.

"If we were going to be vulnerable it would have been tonight given that half the team played in a big international last week," he said.

"We've got great character, the players are at an excellent level physiologically and I thought we were never really troubled throughout the game.

"The confidence is in a good place and we're in a good position. This competition is always going to be tight but to be where we are on the table and to be playing the football we are at the moment coming out of the (halfway) turn is extremely pleasing."
 
The Wellington side's ability to shut down the Jets after taking the early lead was particularly impressive.
 
"We grafted well after we scored," said Herbert. "Nobody likes going through those sorts of games, those 1-0 affairs that can be a little bit dour, but I think it'll do us a lot of good because we have to learn how to do it if we're to make the playoffs. It's about clearing your line, getting balls away and eliminating mistakes.
 
"We weren't under a great deal of pressure throughout but when they did have chances we were able to snuff them out."