Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp knew it was a matter of time before Amakhosi got the breakthrough against Chippa United following a ‘very scrappy’ opening 20 minutes.

A brace from Dumisani Zuma guided the Soweto giants to their fifth straight win in the Absa Premiership following their 2-0 victory over the Chili Boys at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.

The win saw Amakhosi stretch their lead at the top of the league standings to seven points over Mamelodi Sundowns after 10 games played so far this season.

The Amakhosi mentor insists that he is happy to walk away with all three points, despite their slow start to the match.

‘I said it at half-time already, very scrappy first 20 minutes no doubt about it, a good approach from Chippa. With a small alignment at the beginning of the second half, ja so far we had it under control, I had a feeling it was a question of time,’ Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the game.

‘In the end good, if you see a game like this then you know we didn’t have six or seven players [regulars] on the field today comparing to Saturday, that is our advantage, a little bit rusty, players coming in like [Siphosakhe] Ntiya-Ntiya, like Philani [Zulu], Siyabonga Ngezana, the entire defence line, good they managed it to make it happens.

‘We know in front we have the capacity, individual performance or in combination to score, set-piece, whatever, but ja I think what’s important for us is to make the three points.’

Kaizer Chiefs will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the Absa Premiership when they take on rivals Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday with kick-off set for 3:30pm.