Stellenbosch can’t sulk over their 4-0 pak by Kaizer Chiefs and will have to be up for it for Saturday's PSL clash at SuperSport United.
The Cape Town Stadium hosts were caught cold by Amakhosi on Wednesday night, allowing Siyabonga Ngezana and Samir Nurkovic to open up a 2-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes with goals from set pieces.
Coach Steve Barker’s manne never recovered from the early setbacks and Chiefs added goals via Nurkovic and Dumisani Zuma to cruise to a seventh straight league win, the joint best run in the PSL era.
With another tough game coming up this weekend, Barker warns his players not to let themselves down at dead ball situations again.
FOCUS: Steve Barker wants his boys to be focussed on their next game. Picture: Ryan Wilksky/BackpagePix.
He says: “We pride ourselves in working hard in open play, that from set pieces you should not let yourself down – but we had two goals scored against us.
“The important part is not to mope or sulk. It's a big game this Saturday and we have to move forward and take the opportunity to get ourselves back on track.”
Against SuperSport, Barker called on his team to fight from the first minute, after their slow start in the Chiefs defeat.
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The coach adds: “We were too passive.
“What we need to learn as a team is that we have to play with the courage and the bravery that we came out with in the second half from the first the first whistle.
“We can’t show bravery when there is nothing to lose and we’re already 2-0 down.
“Then we can compete and beat teams.”
There is some good news for Barker, with veteran defender Morgan Gould returning from suspension this weekend.
Weekend PSL Fixtures:
Saturday:
- Polokwane City v Bloemfontein Celtic (3.15pm),
- Black Leopards v Arrows (6pm).
Sunday:
- AmaZulu v Maritzburg United,
- Chippa United v Baroka FC (all 3pm).