Swallows 'undone by sloppiness'

FOR Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter, Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows have so far underachieved in the Premier Soccer League.

And it is for that reason that Baxter sees the Dube Birds as a threat to Amakhosi's 10-game unbeaten run in the Absa Premiership when the two sides clash at Soccer City tonight. Kickoff is at 7.30.

Chiefs have hogged the top spot on the standings since August, while Swallows have been in and out of contention for the No1 position and now lie seventh. They trail Chiefs by 10 points.

"Swallows have been inconsistent, but you do know they have a lot of potential in the team and on a good day can beat anybody," Baxter said yesterday.

"For me they have underachieved in terms of where they expected to be at this stage of the season.

"I have watched a lot of their games, as I do to prepare, and the way they play doesn't match their standings on the log."

Baxter said in the build-up to tonight's match, Amakhosi were not preparing with the Dube Birds' erratic form in mind, but rather their opponents' potential on a good day.

"We are aware that we have now become the team to beat. Everybody wants to take our position at the top of the log and Swallows have often been undone by sloppiness at the back or bad luck," Baxter said.

He said he would also try to get his players not to get carried away by Chiefs' unbeaten run.

Chiefs completed the double over Swallows last season, beating them home and away.

But it was the Dube Birds who finished higher on the Premier League table at the end of the season, claiming the runners-up place behind eventual champions Orlando Pirates.

Amakhosi finished fifth and without a trophy.