Wits desperate to end home hoodoo

It will be the first time this campaign that the Clever Boys have hosted Leopards, though that might well not be of much use to Gavin Hunt’s men, given how Wits’ awful home form is what has left them playing catch-up in the title race instead of running away with the trophy.

Wits won 1-0 at Leopards in early December, with Gabadinho Mhango’s late goal deciding the tie, but looked to be slipping out of the Nedbank Cup at the hands of Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium in February, with Lidoda Duvha 1-0 up, before a torrential downpour saw the game abandoned at half time, with Wits winning the replay on penalties following a 1-1 draw a couple of days later.

The Clever Boys went into this week’s fixtures trailing league leaders Orlando Pirates by just six points, with a game in hand on the Buccaneers, not out of it just yet with four games left to play in the season.

Wits are almost certain to need 12 points out of 12, however, and to do that will have to vastly improve their form on home soil.

In March and April, just as an example, Hunt’s side have picked up away wins at Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United, but have lost league games at home to Cape Town City and Pirates, and have also been knocked out of the Nedbank Cup at the same venue by Chippa.

Dylan Kerr’s Leopards, however, would seem like ideal opposition, having not won a game away from home since January 6, and currently just two points above the relegation play-off spot.

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