City out to reclaim top spot

Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

The Citizens will move back to the summit of the table with victory over the Chilli Boys, as Eric Tinkler’s men aim to keep the heat on their fellow title contenders.

Having watched both Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United drop points, City will be eager to follow Bidvest Wits in claiming victory over a side struggling at the wrong end of the log standings.

Tinkler, though, is more than wary of the task at hand, with the former Bafana Bafana international worried that his team have lost an ounce of confidence recently.

The Cape side have gone six games unbeaten in the league, but a surprise defeat to Acornbush United in the Nedbank Cup was duly followed by a goalless stalemate away to Bloemfontein Celtic.

“I don’t really know what’s happened, it looks like the confidence has gone to a degree,” said Tinkler. “First half [against Siwelele] we looked lethargic, we panicked, we really struggled to link up play.

“What tended to happen then was Lebo Manyama was playing too high, then we struggled to get the link-up play to get the ball into (Lehlohonolo) Majoro. Then Bongo (Bongolethu Jayiya) was coming in too early and technically we were losing the ball too cheaply.

“Defensively we were very spread out, they were winning the second balls and they caused us problems in the first half. We were no reflection of what we’ve been in that first half,” Tinkler concluded.

In contrast, the Chilli Boys have gone six games without a win as the Eastern Cape-based side continue to harbour relegation fears.

“Everything has been good going into City’s game, although we just had a setback of an injury with Diamond [Thopela] ruled out,” head coach Dan Malesela said.

“But the preparations for this match have been good. We’ve been training for Cape Town City and ourselves to say what do we do to win the game and how do we deal with them in terms of their attack and all those things, so that has been good.”

In head-to-head stats, City and Chippa have met in just one previous top-flight league match.

That encounter took place earlier this season, with the Citizens claiming a 2-1 away win in the Eastern Cape.