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TOP 3 STILL TINKLER’S TARGET!

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Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler Photo by Backpagepix
Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler Photo by Backpagepix

ORLANDO Pirates head coach Eric Tinkler said his sights were still set on a top three finish, despite his side’s hard-fought 2-1 loss to Absa Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.

Tinkler stressed that his side faced a tough period, with three crucial matches on the horizon – against Free State Stars, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Bloemfontein Celtic.

Bucs play Ea Lla Koto at Goble Park next Wednesday.

Said Tinkler: “All the teams are tough but our situation is better. Stars are a direct rival. It’s not an easy place to travel to, but I would rather play them at Goble Park than in QwaQwa.

“This is an important period, with those three games. All of them are close adversaries. We must ensure we collect maximum points from those three games if we are to achieve of our objective of at least finishing in the top three.”

Tinkler said he was happy with his side’s second half performance after Downs looked unstoppable in the first half, where Khama Billiat, Leo Castro, Keagan Dolly and Teko Modise ran his defence ragged.

Said Tinkler: “We spoke about Dolly, Castro and Billiat.

“We had a game plan and if we had stuck to it, who knows, the result could have been different. It was not a bad performance but I always expect more and if I’m brutally honest, we did not do that.”

Tinkler said he changed tactics at half-time and it was a different Pirates that took to the field and had Downs on the back foot with Mpho Makola reducing the deficit: “There was a lot of good we can take out of this game. The fact we are not playing with fear any more is a good sign.”

He said he would keep faith in his off-form striker Thamsanqa Gabuza. Tinkler admitted Gabuza was going through a rough patch, where goals have dried up.

But Tinkler has no plans to drop him: “I have faith in Gabuza and am confident he will turn the corner.”

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