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Hunt: Every point counts

Johannesburg - Wits coach Gavin Hunt says he would take an "ugly point over a pretty loss" every time, following the Clever Boys’ 1-1 draw against University rivals AmaTuks in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Henrico Botes' second half equaliser helped salvage a point for Hunt’s outfit, after Atusaye Nyondo had put the visiting University ahead before half-time.

“We’re in the results business. Result first, entertainment second. We’ve got this thing and we need to understand that,” Hunt said.

“Yes, we’re not pretty and it’s hard to watch but there were times where there was some good football. It wasn’t pretty but it was exciting, in terms of goal-mouth action and balls flying across and missed opportunities.”

Tuesday’s draw earned Wits their fourth point of the campaign, after they beat SuperSport United on the opening day of the new season to bag maximum points.

A late penalty was enough to see off United over the weekend, which followed a penalty shootout victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in the MTN8 competition the week prior, prompting Hunt to express his satisfaction at coming through without a loss, even if it meant playing poorly.

“We’re there. We’ve done it the hard way. We got three points away and we drew at home. If we had done it the other way around, we would’ve been happy, wouldn’t we?

“We haven’t played well at all. But I don’t want to play well… and in the next three games [earn] the same points, and then in the next three games [after that] have the same situation.

“If we get through the cup semi-final, and get another four points in the next two games, I’ll be happy with that if we play the same.”

Despite conceding inside the opening five minutes, Hunt’s side fought back well, but were unable to get themselves across the line as a host of chances fell by the wayside.

“We gave a goal away, a cheap goal, a real schoolboy-error goal. You can’t concede a goal like that -- they had three touches and they scored from their goalkeeper.

“That was poor, but if you’re honest and fair and you know the game, there was only one team in the game (Wits), so it’s frustrating from our perspective because last year was exactly the same thing here.

“We drew too many games at home, in similar fashion. But we’re not scoring, so we’ll keep going.”

The first of a two-legged MTN8 semi-final awaits Wits over the weekend against Orlando Pirates and Hunt admitted it would be a tough prospect against one of the country’s top cup teams.

“A 0-0 draw will be fine,” Hunt said simply.
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