Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler was pleased to come away with three points against a hard-working Free State Stars outfit on Saturday.

 

The Buccaneers took the lead in the ninth minute via Tendai Ndoro's composed finish and held on for the three points to move up to sixth position in the standings.

 

Tinkler was happy to get the win, but was also full of praise for Ea Lla Koto, saying: "I have to give credit to Free State Stars. They really tried to make a game of it. Even in the first half they started extremely positively, looking to apply a very high press which made it extremely difficult.

 

"We managed to catch them on the break and yes in the first half we could have been 3-0 up because of the chances we created.

 

"Second half, they were far better than what we were. Their pressing was exceptional, their movement getting forward. Brighton (Mhlongo) had to make a couple of good saves. 

 

"A lot of the chances they created were from outside the box, so defensively I was actually quite happy with the performance of the team today.

 

"Second half, I was a bit disappointed. I felt we could have hurt them a bit more, particularly on the counter attack because they left themselves extremely exposed committing a lot of bodies forward."

 

On the form of Ndoro, Tinkler added: "He's been exceptional for us. We know that, given a chance, he will hit the target. He was a bit unlucky with the second one coming off the crossbar."