Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp admits he is running out of ideas as how to save his side from relegation.
The club’s DStv Premiership survival hopes all but ended with their 1-0 defeat to Polokwane City on Tuesday.
With Richards Bay beating AmaZulu 2-1, Middendorp’s side are now eight points adrift at the bottom of the standings with just four games to play.
While Spurs are still technically still in with a chance of ending their season above the Natal Rich Boyz in the play-off/relegation places, they would need maximum points against Royal AM, SuperSport United, Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs.
Richards Bay, meanwhile, need just a win and a draw from their last four games to avoid the automatic drop.
Middendorp admits his side need a miracle to stay up.
He told iDiski Times: “Listen I’m busy all the days with finding solutions for this game to put it adequate together, to find solutions with the potential we have. We have a number of players not available also not 100% available, second-half players we brought in, they can’t do it for 90 minutes in the moment.
“Not really on their best quality, that’s what I’ve been busy with it in this moment. I’m not having a solution in terms of looking forward. The game today was my main focus and ja, good, it’s now definitely something where you have to see how to approach the following four games.
“Of course, it’s also always something, miracles happen, but I’m more realistic.”
Middendorp added that their reality suggests they won’t be in the South African top-flight next season.
“In the moment you will ask me where should I take the hope? One or two players probably will be available next week, but also been out for a number of weeks now. ja, we just come together tomorrow and then we have to see how we approach it,” he explained.
“The games have to be played and of course played for the optimum, for the maximum of points. That’s the reality but that is what we are doing since the end of November.”