Royal AM head coach John Maduka says his side “lost concentration” in their defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.

Thwihli Thwahla suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to champions Sundowns after conceding an 85th-minute goal by Peter Shalulile.

Royal AM currently sits in 14th place in the DStv Premiership standings, with 29 points from 27 matches, having won eight games, drawn five and conceded 14 defeats so far this season.

Maduka says his side lacked concentration against a team that you have to defend against every moment.

“I think defensively we did well, I think the game plan was good until that moment you know we lost concentration and we just gave the goal that was not supposed to be there because we knew that it’s a team that you have to defend every moment,” Maduka told SuperSport TV after the game.

“You can’t afford to relax because a team that takes the game to you and they keep on pushing and keep looking for that goal, they keep on putting pressure on you in that half.

“That moment made us lose the game but otherwise the game-plan was good and the boys defended so well.

“We looked ok because we knew that we will suffer when it comes to trying to win the ball, but immediately with the ball we played forward.”

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