MOROKA Swallows failed to add the cherry on top of their new sponsorship deal at the weekend, but coach Zeca Marques raised eyebrows with remarks after the encounter against Chippa United at the weekend.

Marques said the Dube Birds never stood a chance of winning, even in their own back yard at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.

The Chilli Boyz won the match 2-0.

"I actually think the game itself was played under good spirits, to be honest, with both teams trying to play football, but it was unfair to see us get a player and [assistant coach] Fani Madida sent off," said Marques afterwards.

Swallows, who are now backed by car manufacturer Hyundai, suffered an early blow when referee Lwandile Mfiki took the harsh decision to send off midfielder Anver Esterhuizen for what he thought was a flying elbow in the 38th minute. Mfiki then asked Madida to leave the pitch for protesting against the red card.

"You'd expect things to be said because this is a game of emotions, but this was unfair," Marques said. I have seen worse in this country. There's no question that the red card conditioned the game.

"It was his [Esterhuizen's] first game and he was putting them under pressure, but the minute you take that out of the equation there's nothing left.

" That was a game-changer for us. We were playing to make the sponsors happy today, besides the three points. We would have liked to give them that joy at least. I am actually gutted that we had to lose under these conditions."

The Dube Birds' second successive defeat leaves them seventh on the Absa Premiership table after six matches, while United climbed to ninth.