The 33-year old striker's goal in the dying minutes of the encounter would have made all the headlines had it not been for the actions of the club's away fans, who ignited a series of flares and detonators during the first half, leading to the game being temporarily halted.

Football Federation Australia immediately cracked down on the club and within 48 hours had issued a show cause notice, stating the club would need to prove why they shouldn't be hit with a major fine or a loss of points, as has been threatened in the past.

But while certain Wanderers' fans continue to misbehave - and have been admonished by the club officials repeatedly for doing so - Santalab said it would be unfair to see the team punished.

"I think it's disappointing that the FFA are looking to take points off us. We don't like it when the game is brought into disrepute and we hope this situation is dealt with as soon as possible and the players aren't punished for something totally out of our control," he said before training on Wednesday.

"We give 100 per cent week in, week out, so to punish the players would be ridiculous."

However, Santalab said he and other players did not endorse the actions of the rowdy fans, saying something "definitely" had to be done.

"It's unacceptable and we've seen in Melbourne, the game was stopped because of the interruption from the smoke," he said.

"It's not something that we need in our game. It's definitely a disruption and, as players, we want to see that cleared out of the game."

The veteran forward said he didn't believe those fans setting out to cause trouble were true fans of the club.

"I think people who really love this football club wouldn't do something like this," Santalab said.

"For people to continue in the way they are, I feel they don't really love this football club. We have to question why they are coming into the stadium."

The Wanderers are currently equal top of the table, separated only from first place by goal difference, meaning a points deductions could cost them anything from a tilt at the premier's plate, a top two position or even a place in next year's Asian Champions League.

Last time they had crowd troubles, over two years ago, the club was hit with a suspended three-point deduction that was never enacted.

"It would be a big setback. We're equal with Brisbane at the moment and any point at the moment is vital, so to lose three would be a huge setback for us," Santalab said.

"We would have to try, as players, to put that setback behind us mentally and keep grinding away to overcome the three-point loss."

However, Santalab reckoned the ordeal hadn't affected the players so far as they head into Sunday's match game at home against Wellington Phoenix.

"No, I don't think so, and I think that is simply to do with the fact that we have a job to do week in, week out," he said.

"We can only control what we do. What the fans do is out of our hands and we go into every game wanting to win and we prepare for every game wanting to win."

In better news for the striker, he agreed a two-year deal with the club this week that will most likely see him finish his A-League career in the red and black hoops.

"I'm absolutely delighted. It's a great reward for the last three and a half years at the Wanderers and it's been a great time here so far and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I feel great, my body is good and I'm looking forward to the next two years," he said.

"I think I'm improving and getting better day-by-day here. As long as my body stays well, I can continue to play the way I am."

Although he'd rather be starting on a regular basis, Santalab now rivals Brisbane's Henrique for the title of the league's best super-sub.

"I [score] because my teammates grind the opposition down before I jump on with my fresh legs, allowing me to do what I do and it's up to me to finish the opposition off and it's worked of late," he said.

"I'd love to start every week but "Bridgey" [Mark Bridge] is in red-hot form at the moment and I'll continue to enjoy the role I'm playing for now. Whenever I'm required to start or come off the bench, I'm always ready."