Eric Tinkler reacts to being the first to beat Mamelodi Sundowns

The Citizens became the only team this season to beat Sundowns in the league, denying them of playing 30 games without a loss.

READ: Mamelodi Sundowns chairman reiterates Champions League chase

Even with a depleted squad at Loftus Stadium, Tinkler insists his players always believed they were capable of an upset.

''I don't want to go too much into tactical detail, because I think the most important factor today in order to get this result especially against a team like Mamelodi Sundowns is because of group effort, a lot of energy, a lot of intensity, a lot of aggression, a right mentality and belief. I am really proud of the 21-man squad that we had out here,'' said Tinkler.

Tinkler revealed how he was forced to make drastic changes to his line-up against Sundowns having planned to play a certain way the entire week.

 ''The preparation, everything we have done during the week - was not what we put out there today for various reasons, we obviously had quite a few suspensions, key players, Patrice is been extremely important for us in that defensive holding role, Thami Mkhize woke up this morning sick,'' added Tinkler.

City took the lead in the second half when Jaedin Rhodes capitalised on defender Mothobi Mvala’s mistake at the back.

Tinkler says it’s the kind of aggression that won them the match.

The victory very nearly helped City secure a CAF Confederation Cup spot, but in the end wasn’t enough. Tinkler said he felt “no pity” for denying Sundowns an invincible season.