Middendorp confident he will keep his job

Ernst Middendorp has reiterated his belief that he faces no danger of the sack but said it was now essential for Chippa United to start winning their home matches if they are to avoid being sucked into a relegation struggle.

"It was clear from when I took the job that there were a lot of problems and this was not going to be easy," he said after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Orlando Pirates - a sixth match without success since taking over in January.

Five of those have been league games, with United picking up just two points in 2015, leaving them just five points away from the relegation zone. "I had an understanding when I took over that I had to make sure we kept our PSL status. I knew it would be difficult and what we need now is to go through and make sure we get a win in our next home game," he said of Friday's clash against AmaZulu at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

"That's now the direction for us to take, to fight with all we have, to stick together and show the fighting spirit inside the club. With the home support in Port Elizabeth, winning is something that has to happen now."

The Chilli Boyz have not had success in all competitions since late November when they beat fellow strugglers sFree State Stars 1-0 at home.

Since then they have gone 12 games without success.

Middendorp is the third coach at the club this season after Kosta Papic and Roger Sikhakhane, and the tendency of owner Siviwe "Chippa" Mpengesi to fire coaches in frustration at poor results meant there was widespread speculation in the wake of the loss at the Buccaneers midweek over his future.