Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter refused to concede that the title is all but lost following his team's 1-0 loss to Mpumalanga Black Aces on Wednesday at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
The loss meant Chiefs dropped down to second, three points adrift of Mamelodi Sundowns, as they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0
in Pretoria.
“No its not all lost,” said Baxter.
“But we are making it difficult for ourselves, aren't we? Two 1-0 defeats at home, that's not the form of a team that has aspirations to win the championship.”
Chiefs do have a game in hand over Sundowns, and Baxter believed his side would have to be more ruthless in the remaining matches if they are to lift the title.
“In terms of mathematics, it's still a long way to go but we will have to play and show a lot more character than that,” said Baxter.
“We have to apply the killer touch a lot more better than we did tonight.”
The Amakhosi mentor said his charges gave away the game to Aces by deviating from the game plan and losing concentration.
“I don't think we showed the quality in terms of the technical and mental game to wrestle the game away from Aces,” said Baxter.
“We lost our discipline in the finish and if they didn't score it would have been 0-0.
“Because of a lack of discipline, we lost our shape and they got the goal, but that's part of the game, and you have to bite the bullet.”
Black Aces coach Clive Barker, meanwhile, hailed the character of his players.
“It's wonderful, marvellous. What a performance,” said Barker.
“They hung in there even when things were tough out there and Chiefs were on top. The boys held on and squeezed something out of it.
“It's fantastic for the team, the owners and the supporters.”
Despite the win, Barker said he was disappointed by how both teams fluffed chances on the night.
“I thought there was going to be a lot of goals and I was disappointed by both sides, particularly in the first half.
“I thought we were a bit pedestrian.” – Sapa