We 'dropped' too much

Johannesburg - Dealt an injury time defeat, Ajax Cape Town coach Jan Versleijen says his side were unable to cope under the pressure of an attacking Black Leopards outfit on Tuesday.

Leopards came from a goal behind to score a 2-1 Absa Premiership win over their fellow relegation strugglers in Polokwane.

"We dropped too much and let them come (forward) too much,” Versleijen said.

"Up front we couldn't keep the ball so that always means your players are under pressure."

The result left both sides level on 23 points with five games remaining, with the Cape side ahead on the log, in 14th place, on goal difference.

It was particularly disappointing for Versleijen to lose a game his side had led for the better part of 70 minutes.

"One goal was not enough," he said.

"Black Leopards were fighting for their last chance and that's what they did.

"I said before the game this would be a physical game, and you have to deal with that.

"In the first half we did, but in the second half we didn't."

Versleijen felt Leopards wanted the win more than his troops.

"They were really fighting for their last chance and you could see that in this game.

"That is why they gave 200 percent and we couldn't deal with the pressure.

"That's probably what you have to do when you play relegation football.

"We could have done good business today(Tuesday), but we didn't. Now we have to keep on going and keep Ajax in the PSL."

Leopards player Raymond Monama praised the attitude of his team-mates.

"We knew that we had to go all out today(Tuesday), because if we lost against Ajax it was going to be a mountain to climb," Monama said.

"We had to work hard today(Tuesday) and fight all the way.

"I was working hard tonight and I had no choice. We had to work hard as a team and the rest of the team kept me going and encouraged me all the way."