Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs, who have not won a game in the Premier League since February, put their string of poor results down to bad luck and not necessarily their poor performances.
Chiefs have drawn their last five matches, including a 1-1 draw with Bidvest Wits at the Mbombela Stadium midweek and will face the 'Clever Boys' on their home ground in their Nedbank Cup last 16 match on Sunday.
"Yesterday (Wednesday) it came down to questions about our goalkeeper, and against Pirates it was bad luck," said Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic speaking at a press conference on Thursday.
Instead of citing their poor all-round display, coach Vermezovic was quick to blame external factors.
"We're in a very tough position because in the next two weeks we will have a game every three days."
Chiefs are now six points off the pace, with five matches left but they do have one game in hand over their rivals. Their lowly fourth position on the table will need a complete turnaround in their results if they hope to mount any kind of challenge for the title.
"Before we played last night, we were six points behind and we are still six points, so nothing has changed," said Vermezovic
"You have to realise though, we have the most difficult schedule until the end of the season."
Vermezovic seemed to have very low expectations of his team, full of high profile players, and is already anticipating further bad results.
"We have to play against SuperSport, who are still the champions. Then there is Black Aces who, after their win yesterday, will be trying hard to stay in the premiership for next season. And then there is Ajax and Amazulu, so it won't be easy at all.
"Even though we drew the last five games, we never go out and try to draw a game, we're there to win it," he added.
The Amakhosi are now faced with an uphill battle to salvage silverware from a campaign which is clearly stuttering to an end.