Cape Town City boss Benni McCarthy was left frustrated after his side let Chippa United off the hook on Tuesday night.
City had to settle for a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at Athlone Stadium after failing to build on their seventh-minute opener.
Winger Riyaad Norodien took advantage of the space his team. But Rhulani Manzini hit a screamer of a freekick seven minutes later to peg the hosts back.
And Benni says: “Three points lost for me, to be blatantly honest. But I can’t really fault my players, because they played according to what we planned.
“And that’s exactly how the goal came - Norodien used his pace and got in.
“You go 1-0 up and you’re thinking this is a team with a new coach, they gonna be under pressure.
ALL SQUARE: City and Chippa. Photo: PHANDO JIKELO. African News Agency/ANA
“So instead of us taking our foot off the pedal, we should have continued to play with what got us the goal.
“Then a cynical foul. We suffered a freekick unexpectedly. I didn’t expect that guy to have a bloody missile in his boot.”
The coach reveals that he had used Ayanda Patosi at the top of his attack as a false No.9 in the hopes of confusing Chippa’s caretaker boss Joel Masutha.
But the Chilli Boys fought to stay in the game.
And Benni adds: “They could have dropped their heads after we went 1-0 up so early in the game.
“But I think we let them off the hook.”