Wits look to secure safety at home to AmaZulu

by Scent ition

Friday Apr 27, 2018. 09:37

Bidvest Wits will look to secure Absa Premiership survival when they host AmaZulu at Bidvest Stadium on 28 April 2018, kick-off at 15h00.

Wits suffered their heaviest defeat of the season (and a ninth overall) when they were beaten 4-0 at Orlando Pirates on April 25. The result left the Johannesburg side just two points clear of the relegation playoff zone.

The Clever Boys have claimed just 16 points from 14 home matches this season, with their last game as hosts ending in a 1-1 draw against Polokwane City earlier in the month.

AmaZulu claimed their eighth league win of the season when they defeated bottom-of-the-log Platinum Stars 2-1 away on April 25. The result left the Durban side four points clear of the relegation playoff zone.

Usuthu have claimed just 15 points from 14 away matches this season, though they are unbeaten in their last four games on the road.

In head-to-head stats, AmaZulu and Wits have met in 54 league matches since 1985. The Clever Boys have claimed 20 wins compared to 14 for Usuthu, while 20 matches have been drawn. The Johannesburg side has won 14 of 27 home matches against their Durban counterparts, suffering five defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, in Durban in September 2017, AmaZulu claimed a 3-0 home win thanks to goals from Michael Morton and Rhulani Manzini (two). Wits have not lost at home to Usuthu since the second half of the 2009/10 season.

Wits’ line-up from their 4-0 loss to Pirates on April 25: Peters, Allie (Frosler 46’), Mkhwanazi, Gyimah, Hlanti, Scott (Claasen 70’), Monare, Ritchie, Pule, Mosiatlhaga (Majoro 46’), Rodgers.

AmaZulu’s line-up from their 2-1 win over Stars on April 25: Mbatha, Mabiliso, Sikhakhane, Gumede P (Cele 65'), Nyongo, Ouro-Akoriko, Ncube, Mnguni, Ncobeni (Lumkwana 46'), Karuru, Khenyeza (Morton 71').