New-found form to boost Pirates’ morale

The Buccaneers have beaten both Baroka FC and Mamelodi Sundowns, scoring six goals in the process after winning 3-1 in both matches. Sredojevic, however, has warned his players not to get carried away by the results.

This is the first time since November 2016 that they have won two league games in a row, and the first time they have done so at all under Sredojevic.

“We need to be injected with elements of confidence because after 15 months we have registered two consecutive wins. After I don’t know how long, we have managed to score six goals in two games. This needs to be a motivation, but at the same time we need to send a strong message into our heads that in football nothing is guaranteed,” said the Bucs mentor.

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Following the two wins, Pirates are fifth in the standings with 26 points from 17 games, five points adrift of leaders Sundowns.

Pirates and City have met twice already this season, in one league and one Telkom Knockout match, with both matches ending in a 2-2 draw, though Bernard Molekwa’s charges emerged victorious in the cup.

The Bucs coach is aiming at improving his side’s defence to stop Polokwane City’s dangerous attack of Rendani Ndou, who scored both goals in the TKO match and Rodney Ramagalela, the league’s top scorer with nine goals, from inflicting any damage on the Bucs’ last line of defence.

“We have the highest degree of respect for Polokwane, we drew 2-2 with them in our last two games. Now we need to tighten up at the back, and we need to continue being effective in front of goal and also with the performance we displayed against Sundowns last weekend.”

City, meanwhile, head into this tie having lost 2-1 to Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium last weekend, dropping to 12th place with 18 points.