Amakhosi without Baxter for last games

ABSA Premiership leaders Kaizer Chiefs will face their last two crucial games of the season without coach Stuart Baxter on the bench, as he was red-carded in their 2-1 Nedbank Cup semifinal victory over United FC at Soccer City on Saturday night.

Baxter was sent off for abusive language towards an assistant referee in the 90th minute of the unspectacular win against First Division United to reach the Nedbank Cup final, where Chiefs will face either Platinum Stars or Supersport United.

Amakhosi will hope Baxter's absence from the bench in their final two league games - against Supersport at Peter Mokaba Stadium on May 15 and Pretoria University at Loftus on May 18 - does not derail their title hopes. Chiefs' goal-scorer and man-of-the-match Lehlohonolo Majoro played down the effect that Baxter's absence will have.

"We do our preparation in the training. When it comes to the game we already know what's expected from us. That's why we have our assistant coach, Doctor Khumalo, who has the same mentality.

"So whatever preparation we do for the game against Supersport will be in training, and it will be up to us as players because then there's nothing the coaches can do. They cannot play for us - we are the ones who are supposed to play.

"We have to be professional enough, and man enough, to do our business, which is playing football and winning games."

Chiefs capitalised on some nervous defending from their opponents on Saturday, with Majoro sweeping in from close range in the fifth minute and George Lebese heading in a second in the 16th.

Referee Gomes awarded a soft 80th-minute penalty when there was barely contact between Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite and United substitute Conrad Madolo, from which Walter Maponyane pulled a goal back.

Assistant Khumalo said Amakhosi were not getting ahead of themselves in anticipation of a potential league and cup double. Chiefs have a three-point lead over Platinum Stars, the form team in the closing stages of the season. Amakhosi, in contrast, have shown signs of nerves, including last week's 3-1 defeat to Ajax Cape Town.