Tinkler searching for goals from Cape Town City attack

CAPE Town City coach Eric Tinkler will hope the forthcoming Fifa international break will allow some of his injured attackers to recover, while working on finding that cutting edge in front of goal again.

After a hectic start to the season, which has already seen City play four matches in a short period of time, the Citizens will not be in action for a fortnight with their next Premiership game only on September 15 against Marumo Gallants.

City have responded well to Tinkler’s training methods and style of play since the former Bafana Bafana hard man returned to Cape Town near the end of last season for his second spell in charge of the club. They have been much more organised and structured, particularly in defence, and have also shown great character and grit, especially when stealing the late equaliser against AmaZulu in the MTN8 quarter-finals.

They also came back from a goal down against Royal AM last week to take all three points with a 2-1 win. Both matches were played in KwaZulu-Natal.

However, City have been goalshy at home, with the Citizens yet to find the back of the net at their alternate home venue, Athlone Stadium, with their league encounter against SuperSport United and Sunday’s MTN8 semi-final first leg against Swallows FC nding goalless.

Tinkler has juggled his attackers, with new striker Khanyisa Mayo and Nigerian midfielder Abdul Jeleel Ajagun being brought into the line-up to offset the loss of the injured Fagrie Lakay and Thabo Nodada.

City were more creative and fluid against Swallows than in the previous dour encounter against SuperSport, but Nodada’s silky touches and penetrating passes remain glaringly absent.

Tinkler will be hoping his playmaker recovers from a hamstring injury for the home clash against Gallants, followed by the allimportant Western Cape derby against Stellenbosch FC just three days later.

“I thought it was a very dominant performance by us. We knew that Swallows were going to be a very difficult team in terms of their formation and how they play, with their fullbacks going inside,” Tinkler said after the clash against the Birds.

“We changed our formation slightly to try and catch them. We tried to be a little brave in terms of the players we utilised in this game, very offensive.

“We created so many chances, we hit everything, but we just couldn’t get it in the back of the net. We hit the post, the keeper had to make a few saves, and clearances off the line from their players. It was just that final third we didn’t get the goal.

“It was a dominant performance by us, and the only real time that they caused any real threat was on the counter.

“But I am very happy that the players adapted to the new system, and happy that we kept a clean sheet, but we should have won comfortably.”