DURBAN, May 27 (Absa Premier League) –  Mlungisi Ngubane is confident that the clean sheet kept by his Thanda Royal Zulu side in the first leg of their relegation play-off semi-final tie against FC Cape Town will stand them in good stead for the return meeting on Thursday.
The Amabhubesi coach watched from the sidelines as our boys battled their way to a goalless draw against the First Division Coastal Stream side at the SJ Smith Stadium on Sunday.
Despite creating several openings, both sides failed to break the deadlock and the result has not left Ngubane with any concern.
“For us it was very good that it was 0-0 because any draw with goals away will give us that advantage,” he said. “I know that they are now under pressure to stop us from scoring at their home ground.”
 “You see though we attacked it was not that strong because we were also thinking about defending at the same time.”
That draw means that a goal Thanda in Cape Town will almost certainly boost their chances of qualifying against the Coastal Stream runners-up side and the coach knows the pressure will all be on the hosts.
He added: “Both teams had chances and either team could have scored but at the end of the day a draw without goals was okay for my players.
“FC Cape Town will know that we are coming there to score first and even if they equalise it will be tough on them.”
Ngubane’s opposite number Johnny Ferreira was not shy to hide his displeasure with the way Thanda played in the first leg and insists that his side will attack from the start in Cape Town.
“They failed to capitalise on their home ground advantage with the full backing of the home crowd,” he said. “We are going to make sure that we make them pay dearly for that.
 “I must express my unhappiness at the lack of level of commitment and superiority I was expecting from a PSL side. They were defensive while we threw ourselves at them.
“Our strategy for Thursday will be different as we will throw everything into attack. We are confident of winning.”.