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Wits take on wounded Leopards in rescheduled showdown

football10 March 2020 05:28| © Backpage TXT
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Bidvest Wits will look to shrug off their indifferent form in the Absa Premiership when they host Black Leopards at Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday evening. Kick-off is at 7:30pm CAT, live on SuperSport.

The match is a rescheduled fixture after their meeting at the same venue last month was called off due to inclement weather.

Wits have gone three league matches without a win after they were held 0-0 at home by Chippa United on Saturday. The Clever Boys have claimed just 15 points from 10 home matches so far this season.

Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen, though, is confident that sixth-placed Wits will turn their home fortunes around, starting with three points against a Leopards side rooted to the foot of the standings.

"I wouldn't say that we've been struggling at home, I think we've been playing well at home - the only thing is that we can't seem to score. We've been doing everything right but the ball just doesn't want to go into the back of the net," said Petersen.

"We all know that they [Leopards] are going to go all out on Tuesday in order to try and get out of last place on the log standings. We know it's going to be a fight out there on Tuesday and I think if we stick to our guns and play our game we can come out on top."

Leopards head into the clash on the back of a 2-0 loss away to Limpopo rivals Baroka FC this past weekend, a result which brought up a hat-trick of league defeats (and eight losses from their last 10 in the top flight). Lidoda Duvha have claimed just five points from 11 away matches in the 2019-20 season.

Head coach Alan Clark was disappointed with how his team played in Polokwane last time out, with two individual errors leading to Bakgaga's goals on the day.

"I thought we had the best chances of the game. It is unbelievable, I don't know if I should laugh or cry about the schoolboy errors," said Clark.

"We played the game for the opponents, it is unbelievable the mistakes we made. Our own mistakes, we played for the opponents.

"The next game is our biggest one, not a lot of time to prepare so it is more about recovery. More to try and sort out what we are going to do against them to be honest. Wits very difficult team, a team pushing for the title and if we make mistakes like this [against Baroka FC], they are going to punish us," he concluded.

Players to watch:

Bidvest Wits

Gift Motupa: Bidvest Wits head coach Gavin Hunt will be hoping that Motupa is fit for the clash. The forward has missed the club's last three league games through injury and having failed to score in their last two matches, the Clever Boys will be hoping for the return of their top marskman. Motupa has scored 12 goals in 25 matches across all competitions this season.

Phathutshedzo Nange: The former Leopards midfielder has impressed in recent weeks for the Clever Boys, showcasing not only his ability to break down opposition attacks but also in more advanced areas on the pitch where he has been a constant threat in the final third. Apart from that, Nange packs a powerful shot which should have the Leopards goalkeeper on high alert.

Black Leopards

Edwin Gyimah: The Ghana international is set to make a welcome return to the starting eleven after missing the past weekend's clash due to suspension. Gyimah will solidify what was a shaky defensive display away to Baroka and he will be fired up as he takes aim at his former employers.

Mwape Musonda: Last season's golden boot winner has scored just five times in 18 league games this season and if Leopards are to rise off the bottom of the league standings and avoid relegation, they will need more goals from the Zambia international in the final few games of the season.

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