Baxter: I’m happy we came away with the three points

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  • Post published:November 22, 2021

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was delighted to have walked away with maximum points against Maritzburg United after the DStv Premiership resumed following the international break.

The Glamour Boys are slowly beginning to find their form in the DStv Premiership after they claimed their second consecutive win after they beat the Team of Choice 1-0 at the Harry Gwala Stadium this past Sunday evening.

A solitary goal from Bernard Parker moved Amakhosi above Orlando Pirates into sixth place on 18 points, while Maritzburg remain 11th with 11 points, despite suffering the defeat at home.

Baxter says he was impressed with his side’s performance on the day, especially after the international break and feels his side are gaining more confidence in the final third to get the ball into the back of the net.

“I thought we opened well. Our first 20 minutes was better football. But then we allowed spaces to develop,” Baxter told SuperSport TV after the game.

“We didn’t squeeze the line and Maritzburg showed that if you allow them spaces they will play in between. The rest of the half was a bit of give and take. We changed a couple of things at half time.

“I thought the boys were very brave in the second half. They pressed very high. They pressed well. I thought we took the drama out of the game in the second half. Really pleased we’re starting to score goals from set plays and I think the win was thoroughly deserved.

“The first 20 minutes of the first half we played better. The second 20 minutes was very passive, very stretched out. So, if you compare it to the second half we were more compact, more aggressive, more active. We looked like we were going to score. A big difference.

“The boys worked very very hard. It’s difficult coming off a break. You’ve got people coming back. Are they up to speed? Are they mentally down off their national games, which are always a high? Are they down and their feet on the ground? And I thought they were. It’s a very difficult place for Chiefs to come. You ask any Kaizer Chiefs coach. And I’m happy we came away with the three points.”