Hunt left to rue missed chances

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 04: Gavin Hunt of Wits reacts during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits from Orlando Stadium on February 04, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 04: Gavin Hunt of Wits reacts during the Absa Premiership match between Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits from Orlando Stadium on February 04, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images)

Published Apr 20, 2014

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Pretoria – Despite extending their unbeaten run to six successive Premiership encounters, Bidvest Wits boss Gavin Hunt was left reeling after his side failed to put away their chances and were handed a serious blow to any chance of finishing runners-up in the league.

The Clever Boys were held to a goalless draw by 10-man SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, a game Wits should have won comfortably, leaving Hunt wondering what could have been with just four games left in the season.

“We should have won comfortably. We tried to play, we tried to win the game and we had the most chances in the game,” Hunt said.

“Possibly the final pass wasn’t good enough but you can’t do much more than that and not win the game.

“Anybody who knows football 1/8will agree 3/8, we’re the only team who tried to play, they just defended the whole game.”

Third in the league standings behind Kaizer Chiefs and table-topping Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits were still in with a fighting chance for the runner-up position, but looked destined to finish no better than third, following Saturday's lively, but ultimately disappointing, result in Atteridgeville.

Sundowns went on to claim a 1-0 win later on Saturday and look out of reach for Hunt and his troops, but Chiefs were still a realistic target to pass.

But with a single point earned, the Clever Boys moved to 51

points and still trail the Amakhosi by four points, making Wednesday's meeting between the pair a vital one for Wits, should they stand any chance of staking their claim to a second-place finish.

“It knocks us back. Third place should be okay but we’re trying to get as high as we can,” Hunt added.

“We’re going to have to beat Chiefs now, which will be tough for us, but at least we’ll be at home.

“We’ve got four games left, 12 points Ä it’s a big ask, I don’t think 63 points can win the league.”

The Students, however, still have a chance at silverware and will meet Chiefs for a second time in less than a month during the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup, and Hunt dismissed any notions of writing off the current season as a failure.

“We still have a lot to play for this season.

“We’ve got the Nedbank Cup and we’re trying to finish as high as we can and see how many points we can make, so we’ll try as much as we can.” – Sapa

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