Moroka Swallows coach Musa Nyatama says his side “have to learn to protect these leads” after playing out to a stalemate against Orlando Pirates.

The Dube Birds opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Lindokuhle Mtshali but lost their lead when they conceded a 53rd minute goal when Patrick Maswanganyi found the back of the net for Pirates at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday.

Swallows have since moved up to 13th place on the table with 25 points from 22 matches, while Pirates drop down to fourth place on the log with 34 points after 22 games.

Nyatama has urged his side to improve their concentration on the pitch and rectify their mistakes on the field.

“Very difficult game, they were coming at us, I don’t know why we dropped, especially from the first minute and also we were creating chances but in terms of scoring, we’re not scoring,” Nyatama told SuperSport TV after the game.

“You look at the first chance in the first minute, there you have to finish, but ja we have to learn and move forward. A very good point, I’m happy with a point.

“Ja, we scored early, it was good, but like I said, we started to drop, we invited them into our final third, even from the second half. I told the players that the first 10 minutes they are going to come at us, we need to concentrate.

“But now lack of concentration, that cross to the side, no one was marking. But ja, we get to learn on these situations and we’ll deal with that better (in future).

“Ja, second half I thought we didn’t do anything, we were just sitting, why were we sitting, I don’t understand, we didn’t train this thing of coming out on a counter, but ja, it happens in a match where players decide to sit.

“But we have to learn to protect these leads, especially in the second half of the season, we have to learn to protect such leads,” he concluded.

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