Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp believes his side took their encounter with Bloemfontein Celtic ‘too easy’ following their 3-1 defeat at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Amakhosi had the opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings to nine points, but failed to continue the same form in their 3-2 win over Polokwane City this past weekend.

Middendorp admits that his side made mistakes and underestimated Celtic, who are unbeaten since the campaign restart.

‘It’s always something when you take it too easy and I think we had this problem today. We were thinking with this set-up, how we turned around Polokwane City and we wanted to take this drive into this game today. But, unfortunately, it didn’t work,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘We were the ones who were leading but again it’s all about the energy, how we approach this game through the entire game. We haven’t done it right. Bloemfontein Celtic are a difficult side to play against.’

When asked about his decision to substitute Lebogang Manyama at half time, Middendorp explained: ‘Manyama already has a certain challenge in terms of hamstring. It was a risk already to bring him in today and I could see he was not free to move. On the right side, we had some issues. We had some problems. I wanted to block it with a bit more solidity. But, unfortunately, more or less in the first minute of the second half we conceded again.

‘We should be disappointed. We haven’t really approached it like we wanted to win. We have to talk among ourselves in the next few days to be better prepared on Saturday,’ concluded Middendorp.