Kaizer Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp believes his side has been forced to focus on set pieces in recent weeks because of their defensive opponents, but insists Chiefs can score lots of other goals.

A week after they scored three headed goals against Cape Town City, Chiefs went ahead in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Black Leopards courtesy of a Samir Nurkovic header from a corner.

Amakhosi have been lethal from set plays in recent weeks, catching many opponents out with their prowess in the air with the likes of Nurkovic, Leonardo Castro and Eric Mathoho proving particularly effective.

This style of play, however, has caused some criticism from parts of the South African football fraternity and certain Chiefs fans as well.

Middendorp, though, believes their defensive opponents force them to resort to such tactics.

‘No, we score a lot of other goals but now for other goals you need a little bit like what is suitable for passing, and you have seen a lot from the first half [against Leoards] it doesn’t work like you would like to,’ said the German coach.

‘But anyway it’s OK, we have to accept it. Black Leopards is a member of the PSL and we have to travel here, and we have to compete here.

‘I understand it’s about top eight, it’s about staying in the league, it’s about competing for the championship.

‘And it is a normal way if you come to the last 10 games, you will see a lot of games where it’s about passionate defending, where it’s about minimising the mistakes, where it’s about going to the maximum … but it’s allowed.

‘But it’s good, that’s the time now towards the end of the season middle of May. Each and everybody has to expect it and has to handle it,’ he concluded.