Win lifted players’ spirits – Tinkler

Coach looks forward to the clash against Pirates

Eric Tinkler was not pleased with SuperSport United’s performance in their 1-0 Absa Premiership victory over Ajax Cape Town in Mbombela on Wednesday but says the three points were much-needed to lift morale.

SuperSport moved to within six points of league leaders Baroka but have six games in hand‚ and are arguably the bestplaced side in the title race‚ even if they have only featured in six games to date.

And after defeat to TP Mazembe in the Confederation

Cup final last weekend‚ and with the team’s Bafana

Bafana stars still

“hurting” after their failure to reach the

World Cup‚ Tinkler was just happy to pick up a win as

Aubrey Modiba scored the only goal of the game.

SuperSport take on Orlando Pirates on Tuesday in what will be a tougher test against one of their championship rivals‚ and

Tinkler admits that going into that game after another defeat would have been demoralising for his team.

“It was very important for us to collect the three points psychologically‚ because having lost that final‚ and then another loss today [midweek]‚ it would have been a big knock,” Tinkler told reporters.

“We also have a few of the boys that were with Bafana Bafana‚ and the fact that Bafana did not qualify [for the World Cup] hurts them.”