Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter praised his charges for their resilience in the 2-0 derby win over Moroka Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium on Friday night.
The win saw Chiefs go 10 points clear of the second-placed SuperSport United who beat University of Pretoria in another derby match.
Baxter hailed his players for an outstanding display, although he emphasised that he felt they could have done much better in front of goal.
“I think my players did a fantastic job here today,” Baxter said.
“We had a little period where we took our foot off the accelerator in the first half and were a little passive but apart from that, once we had the game where we wanted it we should have scored much more goals.”
Chiefs were without their talisman, Bernard Parker and the coach said the Bafana Bafana forward was injured.
“We are picking up injuries, Bernard has a fatigue-related injury. He had a programme that he is not ready for,” said Baxter.
“Tsepo (Masilela) has pulled a hamstring. We have a squad that's a little bit stretched but that's a challenge to everybody else.”
Swallows coach Zeca Marques praised Chiefs' tactical organisation and blamed the loss on his players' lack of discipline.
“Chiefs came out firing, that's how they play,” Zeca said.
“They start the game at 100 percent and score a goal, then they defend. I have to give credit to Stuart Baxter, he did a great job. They are working as a unit.”
Zeca said two silly mistakes cost his side dearly as they conceded the first goal seven minutes into the match, while they were punished for a lapse on defence which led to the second goal.
“I keep telling the players that you don't give away possession in the middle and we did,” he said.
“You have to win your tackles, especially in those crucial moments of the game and we never won a tackle then we got punished.”
The win does not only see Chiefs stretching the gap at the top of the Premiership table following their eighth win on the trot. – Sapa