Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic believes the ‘football Gods’ paid his side back with the 1-0 win over Bidvest Wits after a number of unlucky results in recent weeks.

The game between the title rivals looked to be petering out to a 0-0 draw until lady luck shone down on Pirates when a Luvuyo Memela free kick was turned into his own net by Clever Boys defender Keegan Ritchie in added time.

The goal handed Pirates all three points and sent them back top of the Absa Premiership all be it by goal difference.

Speaking after the game to SuperSport TV Sredojevic admitted that his side had a tough outing against a really good side and that they probably had the footballing gods to thank for securing all three points.

‘We came here to play a match knowing that since 2013 Pirates have not won the game [against]. We came up against a very good tactically organised team, they put three defenders that succeeded in helping Bafana Bafana qualify for the Africa Cup Of Nations,’ said the Serbian.

‘They have provided a style of play that is not easy to match. We started very badly but then we reshuffled in the second half and put Musa Nyatama in between the two centre-backs, as we were playing with wing backs.

‘From then on it was like two boxers trying to match each other. It could go either way, I give credit to the opponent, we fought. One moment decided the match, I’m happy, the same as I previewed we said one moment could decide the match. I’m happy it’s on our side,’ Sredojevic added.

‘Football has paid us back for those 11 draws because for so long we have been so close and have not won. Now the football Gods gave us this but we are not getting carried away. We are firmly on the ground and now we focus on our Wednesday game against Black Leopards,’ he concluded.