Wits look to sneak into third

Bidvest Wits players warming up

Friday Sep 04, 2020. 11:30

Bidvest Wits will hope to sneak into third place on the Absa Premiership log when they finish their season with a home clash against Polokwane City at FNB Stadium on Saturday 5 September 2020, kick-off at 15h30.

Wits suffered a 1-0 loss away to Black Leopards on September 2, but remain in the hunt to finish ahead of SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates, which would earn African club football for 2020-21. The Clever Boys have claimed 25 points from 14 home matches so far this season.

Polokwane are all but certain to suffer relegation after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Mamelodi Sundowns on September 2. Rise and Shine, who have claimed just eight points from 14 away matches in 2019/20, are three points from second-from-bottom Baroka FC and have a significantly inferior goal difference.

In head-to-head stats, Polokwane and Wits have met in 13 league matches since 2013/14. The Clever Boys have claimed five wins compared to two for Rise and Shine, while six matches have been drawn. The Johannesburg side has recorded two wins, two draw and two defeats from six home matches in the rivalry.

When the teams met earlier this season, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in August 2019, Wits won 1-0 away from home thanks to a goal from Deon Hotto. The result broke a four-game winless streak in this rivalry for the Clever Boys.

Wits’ line-up from their 1-0 loss to Leopards on September 2: Goss, Ritchie, Gordinho, Mlonyeni, Macheke, Alexander, Nange, Domingo, Dzvukamanja, Human, Macuphu.

Polokwane’s line-up from their 3-0 loss to Sundowns on September 2: Chigova, Nkili, Motloung, Hlongwane, Mngomezulu (Booi 63’), Mvelase, Manaka (Chauke 64’), Phiri, Hlubi (Mashumba 55’), Tlolane (J. Maluleke 55’), Anas.