Richards Bay FC are still searching for their first win of the Premier Soccer League season after a heavy 5-1 defeat to Milford FC on Sunday. The result leaves the club 14th in the standings with three points from six matches, just one point above the bottom side. The team has now gone 540 minutes of league football without a victory, a run stretching back to the final day of last season.

Coach Ronnie Gabriel insisted there is 'no need to panic' despite the disappointing start. He pointed to a key moment in the loss at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium as the turning point. "The red card decided the game, so the penalty decision put us on the backfoot," Gabriel said. He argued that with a full team on the pitch, the outcome could have been different, referencing previous resilient performances against Kaizer Chiefs and Durban City. Gabriel highlighted that the team has shown fight, earning draws from losing positions in two of their three drawn games this term.

Tough run of results

The team's recent form shows two consecutive losses, part of a run of five games without a victory. Their only points have come from three draws, including a 2-2 result with Kaizer Chiefs. N. Xulu has been a bright spot, leading the team with three goals this season, but the side has conceded 13 times in six outings. The club's defensive record is a concern, and they will need to address it quickly ahead of a busy schedule of upcoming fixtures.

Gabriel admitted disappointment with the results but stressed the need to look forward. "We looked at our other games coming into this one, because if I look at this fixture here in isolation it’s simple: the red card and the penalty decided the match," he explained. He added that the team must now focus on the fundamentals and prepare for the next challenge. Milford coach Xanti Pupuma praised his team's display, saying he was not surprised by their strong performance in their debut top-flight season, noting they had targeted this match for points.

Richards Bay will aim to bounce back immediately when they face Sekhukhune United this Saturday at 3pm. The match will be played at Princess Magogo Stadium. Gabriel will be hoping key players can step up, and fans can check the latest team news on the club's squad page for updates ahead of the key encounter.

More detail at sowetan.co.za