Bloemfontein Celtic assistant coach Lehlohonolo Seema could not fault his side’s fighting spirit in the 2-0 Absa Premiership loss to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday, but admits they let themselves down. Goals from George Maluleka and Gustavo Paez sealed victory for Chiefs and left Celtic just two points above the relegation playoff position. “We started very slowly and while we were still trying to find our feet they got a goal,” Seema told SuperSport TV. “After that we managed to rectify things, our support going up front, the movement and to close down Shabba [Siphiwe Tshabalala] a bit quicker.” Seema rued Chiefs’ second goal when Celtic tried a quick free-kick, lost possession and Paez was able to race clear and score. “After halftime we started well, the game was balanced up until … I don’t know what happened there. It is one of those things where you don’t know what goes through a player’s head when he does something like that.

“It was always going to be difficult after we conceded a goal like that, but we kept going. I think after the second goal we made it very difficult for ourselves. “But I must compliment the guys, they showed a great spirit and fought until the last minute. You could see they were still fighting.” Celtic must still play Highlands Park and Baroka FC in their next two league games, and then more strugglers in the form of Ajax Cape Town and Free State Stars. “It’s not over yet, this game has put us back where we were, but we have to fight hard and make sure we come back. “Luckily we will play the teams were are fighting with, your Highlands Park and so on. We need to grind results from two of three of the games and then I think we will be safe.”