Eric Tinkler laments losing defender Keanu Cupido in Orlando Pirates defeat

The DStv Premiership clash was still goalless when Cupido had to be taken off, forcing The Citizens to alter their approach and tactics.

Tinkler argued this no doubt worked against the hosts.

"Losing him was a tough one because he's been probably our best defender this season. So, losing him at that stage of the game was not easy but it's part and parcel of football, you know, sometimes that happens," Tinkler said.

City then introduced Patrick Fisher to plug the gap, but the 21-year-old, along with his teammates, could not stop striker Tshegofatso Mabasa from scoring twice to bag all three points for The Buccaneers.

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Tinkler explained why The Citizens were not the same after Cupido came off.

"You’re hoping the person that comes on can apply himself the same way you know but they are all different. Patrick is not the same type of player that Keanu is and doesn't offer the same control and stability, doesn't have the same experience that Keanu now has, and is not as comfortable on the ball as Keanu is. So, it does change but that's what happens," the coach explained.

With City yet to win a match in 2024, Tinkler had hoped his charges would have taken advantage of what he felt was a dominant first half performance.

The coach even brought on Taahir Goedeman for Luyolo Slatsha as a tactical switch in attack.  

"I thought we contained them very well in the first half. I thought we frustrated them in the first half. We didn't make it easy for them to break us down. I felt if there were half chances in the first half, I thought we probably had the better ones but obviously, my assessment in that first half was that we needed to be offering a lot more in attack hence I made that change at half time."