Bucs: 'Mission possible'

Orlando Pirates have to beat the best if they are to keep their Absa Premiership title hopes alive, said caretaker coach Eric Tinkler after Tuesday night's 0-0 draw against Ajax Cape Town at Athlone Stadium.

Tinkler has been in charge of the past four matches - a victory against Wits, defeats against Mamelodi Sundowns and Polokwane City respectively, and Tuesday's stalemate.

At one stage, Bucs had five games in hand and a 17-point gap on leaders Kaizer Chiefs. In the past three matches that has been whittled down to three games in hand and a 16-point gap.

Tinkler's target of reaching 30 points by the halfway stage has not been reached and, instead, Pirates are on 24.

New head coach Vladimir Vermezovi is expected to take over the reins in the coming week - and he certainly has his work cut out for him.

"The harsh reality is we set ourselves a target of 30 points at the halfway mark and we are only on 24," Tinkler said.

"That means we're going to have to work extremely hard in the second round.

"And in matches against teams above us - [with] the likes of Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns we've got to ensure we get good results. Only in that way can we catch up to them. We can't be relying on other teams doing it.

"So it's very important to get a result from our next league game [against Sundowns away on Tuesday].

"I explained to the players before this game that it was important to get a result because, even if we won, we would still need at least 12 wins from our second-round games to reach our target.

"And I said, 'Is it impossible? No. Has it been done before? Yes.'

"And while it's still mathematically possible, we will continue to believe that there is a chance."

Pirates' gruelling game of catchup in the fixture schedule has not made things easier.

"With the games coming thick and fast, I [will have] one day to try to rectify problems," Tinkler said.

The Buccaneers have not scored in three games and Tinkler has started with three separate players - Helder Pelembe, Lennox Bacela and Kermit Erasmus - up front in a bid to get goals.

Erasmus will again feature in Tuesday's match

"We're trying to get Kermit's confidence back after he missed four chances against Polokwane, and the worst option would have been to drop him," Tinkler said.