Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp believes his side lacked the killer instinct following their 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday.

The Glamour Boys failed to extend their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings after conceding a defeat to Sundowns through a 35th minute goal from Gaston Sirino.

The defeat sees Amakhosi remain at the summit of the league standings level on 53 points with Sundowns after 27 matches, but with a superior goal difference over Pitso Mosimane’s side.

‘Before we went down to 1-0, we had two clear chances, one against goalkeeper. We didn’t make it, we didn’t pick it up. Then we got caught on the counter,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘We changed the formation. Changed the set-up. Brought in players. I think in the second half it was 80-20 possession [to Chiefs]. We were consistently in their half. One mistake, one counter on the other side.

‘We had possibilities in the second last minute, it was just a tap-in with a header [by Khama Billiat] and then it was going to be at least 1-1. We were more dynamic in the middle of the park in the second half.

‘It doesn’t matter who you play. If you play Baroka, Bidvest, Black Leopards. There is no easy game as we have seen in the past.

‘It should not have happened today [that they lost] but good, we know why.’