Micho: We cooled our heads at half-time

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic praised the attitude of his players after a hard fought 2-1 victory over Black Leopards to return to winning ways.

The Sea Robbers had taken the lead in the 34th minute after Tshivhavhudzi Ndou scored an own goal from a cross by Thamsanqa Gabuza.

Gabuza was then dismissed on 51 minutes before Vincent Pule added a second for Bucs with 65 minutes on the clock.

Leopards substitute Joseph Mhlongo netted just six minutes later to ensure a tense finish to the game, Bucs doing superbly to grind out the three points with only 10 men.

After the match, the Pirates mentor told SuperSport: "It was a football thriller from start to end.

"It's not easy to play over 60 minutes with a player less. I want to give credit to the players we cooled our heads at half-time. They gave everything they could. They respected the jersey and the supporters."

He added: "Deservedly we got the second goal. We showed a lack of concentration to allow the equaliser. It became a thriller and unpredictable towards the end. I believe we deserved to win given what we have given on the field.

"In any way we resettled ourselves in a 5-3-1 (formation) dropping back because it's not easy to play against a very good team as Black Leopards with a player less for 60 minutes.

"I want to give credit to the players they have given everything."