Johannesburg – Ajax Cape Town were forced to settle for a single point earned from Saturday night's derby with Chippa United at the Philippi Stadium.
The Urban Warriors took a 13th minute lead through Mabuthi Khenyeza, but allowed Chippa to come back into the game, and conceded with 25 minutes left on the clock.
The result at least lifted Ajax out of the relegation zone – they now occupy 14th position, one point above Black Leopards who lost 3-1 to Tuks earlier on Saturday.
“If you play the last 20 minutes with 10 men (after Abia Nale's 65th minute dismissal), and they are coming with everything that you have, we can be very happy,” said Jan Pruijn, who was sitting on the bench as newly-appointed coach Muhsin Ertugral's paperwork was not ready in time for the game.
“The rest of the season will show if this is maybe a very important point.”
Pruijn, however, said there remained concerns Ajax players were not showing enough big match temperament in the latter stages of the season.
“In the final third although we had good build up situations there were at least three moments when we should have got more out of it, especially with Khama Billiat.
“It was not the only game. It's a problem that has unfortunately occurred.
“We have tried to work, we tried to talk about it. You need a certain exposure. Don't think too much, just enjoy it.
“We said this to our four strikers, if you do that, give 100 percent you will get more out of the game.”
Chippa coach Mark Harrison echoed a similar sentiment – that his players needed to deliver the goods when the pressure was on.
“You play football to play in big games. I know we don't want to be in a relegation battle, but at least there is a direction, you are fighting for something.
“”Its good to go and play in big games. That's what I say to the players, embrace the moment (in these big games), go and play.”
The former Mpumalanga Black Aces manager felt his team were good enough for three points, but was not overly despondent, despite his side ending the night three points adrift at the foot of the table.
“Second half we dominated the game, I know they had a man sent off midway through, but by then the pace had already been set.
“First 20, 25 minutes they were better than us and deserved to be one goal up and then we got the equaliser and I think we possibly deserved to win it in the end.” – Sapa