Ernst Middendorp remains defiant following Cape Town Spurs setback

The Urban Warriors were hoping to continue their purple patch and climb up the DStv Premiership table, but a late goal from Gabadinho Mhango gave The Dube Birds maximum points – leaving the hosts still rooted to the bottom of the log. 

Middendorp says they knew going into the fixture it could go either way. 

"We know we have a young team, this type of game is very difficult foreach and every team, not only for us, but for a younger team it's even more difficult," said Middendorp.

"For a team that we saw in Polokwane, Sekhukhune United winning [against Orlando Pirates] – it's different. It's difficult to get through when you have a low block and they do well, they have experienced players and they know what to do in this direction.

"So good, let's now regroup and address it in a proper way, knowing that it [fate] will not be decided on Wednesday or next week, in the beginning of April."

Spurs can immediately bounce back on Wednesday when they face 14th-placed Chippa United in Gqeberha, and Middendorp expects improvement. 

"We know what we are capable of, we know our strengths in a transition game or strengths in progressing, passing in alignment with progressive runs – we know it, we have the pace, we have the structure for it," he added.

"We definitely have a certain identity and, okay, we know it's a different game, it's a home game for Chippa, so in this direction we'll see."

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