Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter admitted his team played baldy on the day in their 1-0 loss to the University of Pretoria but believes the Mbombela pitch was largely to blame for their poor performance.

“I don’t think we did a lot right tonight,” said Baxter.

“In the first half I think we opened quite well, I think the pitch was difficult for both teams and it was difficult to get a passing game going.

“We did quite well initially, we created three or four chances and if we had taken one of those maybe the game would have been different.

“We made poor decisions on the ball and the game opened up which caused problems.

“A cause for concern is that we don’t turn our chances to goals ration into goals. I have to say that I don’t know how much it was the pitch, how much it was the technique. I would like to think we are better than the finishing we saw this evening.”

Still, despite his side’s bad showing Baxter was happy with his team’s overall performance during the season which saw them lift the league title.

“We have somehow dragged ourselves over line, and I say that with all due respect to the job the players have done for the full year but tonight I had a problem being happy after the game because I am a bad loser,” added Baxter.

“I think we have to dissociate from a poor performance tonight which it was and associate into what has been a fantastic year for Kaizer Chiefs and the supporters and players.

“My feelings are I am proud of the season, I am not proud of the performance tonight, but I am proud of the season and the players deserve a load of credit as does the club.”