Realistic Ernst Middendorp throwing in relegation towel?

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With Richards Bay FC having scored a late winner to beat AmaZulu 2-1 at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on the same night, the eight-point gap has been restored between Spurs and Bay.

PSL Wrap: Richards Bay take charge of relegation battle as Cape Town Spurs falter

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit now need only two points from their remaining four games to sink the Urban Warriors and clear themselves from direct relegation, leaving Middendorp pessimistic.

“We are not making the right decisions – and this is just an example, it’s not to blame the player. It’s just what, in this moment, can be done wrong, we are doing it,” bemoaned Middendorp.

“Good, it doesn’t help that in addition, of course, Richards Bay won 2-1 – I’m quite realistic. So, with four games to go, we can sit here now and [say], ‘Fight, fight, fight,’ it’s okay.

“But I don’t think Richards Bay are so stupid not to pick up one point at all anymore, it will not happen. That’s the situation we are in, and good, solve it.”

This was Spurs’ 19th loss of the season following a terrible start to the season, when they lost all eight of their opening matches since returning to the top flight.

Middendorp is more realistic about their chances now.

“I’m busy everyday with finding solutions for this [next] game to put it together adequately and find solutions with the potential we have, and we have a number of players unavailable, and some also not 100 percent available,” he added.

“The players we brought in, in the second half [of the season], they can’t do it for 90 minutes at the moment, and they’re not really at their best quality, so that’s what I’ve been busy with. At this moment, I’m not having a solution in terms of looking forward.

“It’s now definitely something to see how we will approach the remaining four games. Of course, it’s also always something [to have hope in that] a miracle happens, but I’m more realistic.”