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Wits looking for improvement

Johannesburg - Despite lying third on the log, Wits coach Gavin Hunt says his team produced some dreadful football during the first half of the Premiership season and hopes to offer more consistency when the league resumes next month.

READ: Wits ponder Pule offers.

"We produced some of the worst displays of football and I'm really hoping we can turn the corner when the season starts again," Hunt said on Tuesday.

"We didn't compete as much we wanted to and there were games where we were simply pathetic".

His side looked promising at the start of the season but, after 18 league matches, they trail runaway leaders Kaizer Chiefs by 15 points.

Suffering an unexpected 2-0 loss to Polokwane City and a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Chiefs, Hunt said the fact that most of his players were new was one of the reasons why they fell so far short of Stuart Baxter's boys.

"There is no doubt that Chiefs beat us fair and square but I was irritated when we lost to City. It was one of the matches where we didn't respond at all.

"We are professionals so bouncing back is important, especially with the investment the management has made in the side this season."

Having taken his team to Port Elizabeth for a mid-season training camp, Hunt admitted catching up with Chiefs would require something special.

"Chiefs have done brilliantly. They put their noses in front and it will need more than a miracle to topple them," Hunt said.

"The league is theirs to lose but I don't see that happening. For us, it is important to finish second and try to win one tournament as Chiefs look set to be crowned champions in May."

The Clever Boys had roped in journeyman Fikru Teferra to bolster their goal-shy strike force, manned by veterans Christopher Katongo and S'thembiso Ngcobo.

And with the CAF Confederations Cup and the Nedbank Cup to fight for, Hunt said the Ethiopian international arrived at a time when they needed him most.

"We were unlucky with injuries but the Africa Cup of Nations break has seen players like Calvin Kadi and Faty Paty coming back," Hunt said.

"We have to make the most of the second half and the players are ready to respond. We have invested a lot of money into the side and winning something at the end of the season will not be bad."

Wits takes on Maritzburg United away from home when the league resumes in February.

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