Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker said defeat at home to Kaizer Chiefs was difficult to digest but there was still enough evidence of progress to keep faith with his players.
Barker has hardly changed his line-up since the start of the season, even after a surprise 2-1 loss to SuperSport United on Saturday which ended a 10-match unbeaten home run.
It was followed by a 2-0 loss at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town to Chiefs where Stellenbosch let several opportunities slip and ended up down to 10 men.
“It's a difficult loss to take, just considering what happened. I knew that with a big crowd and Chiefs in Cape Town, that the first 10 to 15 minutes would be a bit chaotic, and instructed and told the players just to see those first 10-15 minutes out and let the game settle, ‘and then you'll start getting more control of the game and the ball’,” the coach explained.
“Then yeah, after the first 10 minutes, there was only one team on the pitch. We created all the chances and felt that they didn't really know what they wanted to do in the buildup. There was a lot of transition moments after we put pressure on them and we created all the opportunities, although not too many on target.
“But were little bit unlucky not to, in my opinion, have got more from the first half. After the break, I felt that we were the team who seemed more in control, keeping the ball and moving them around.
“Then they've got a bit of a break and one has to say a moment of brilliance for their goal. From that distance to hit it, in that manner, in the top corner. Well done to (Pule) Mmodi, I thought was a really good goal. Sometimes you can't always cater for those moments of brilliance.
Then Stellenbosch had Devon Titus sent off for a second
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