Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp admitted that he was disappointed with his side for failing to pick up all three against SuperSport United on Friday night, although he praised their attitude.

The Amakhosi were held to a 1-1 draw at the Mbombela stadium on Friday night against Matsatsantsa.

Kaitano Tembo’s team took an early lead through Mxolisi Macuphu’s second-minute header, but Chiefs hit back quickly through a Khama Billiat a cracker in a frenetic first half.

In the second stanza, however, both teams struggled to create chances and couldn’t find the vital goal that would have secured all three points.

‘I think it’s unnecessary to play a draw here, it’s disappointing no doubt. Of course, it was 0-1 and we came back to make it 1-1, we have to be more clever to get the second goal when we had them on the back foot,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the match.

‘The pace in the second half was not as in the first half. It should have been done in the first half to get the second goal. I can repeat this.

‘The first half had a lot of pace and in the second half another defender comes in, then it’s a little bit difficult against experienced defensive work to open up. We didn’t have the same concentration we had in the first half. But good, the ambition was there, but unfortunately we could not deliver,’ the German added.

The former Free State Stars coach was then asked about his side’s progression since his arrival in December when he replaced Giovanni Solinas.

‘I will answer this in the direction of my players, our team. Please ask the question on social media, to the fans if they see the same game like in October, November, September, October, July they will probably tell you. We position ourselves, we have new players in, other players are not yet on a 100% level. Others sitting outside, it’s very painful to see a guy like Lebogang Manyama not available for us but good, it’s not an excuse. We should have won this game today,’ he concluded.

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