Plateau United head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has admitted that his team failed to manage their advantage after surrendering a first-half lead in their 3-2 defeat to Sporting Lagos in Sunday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter in Jos, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The loss at the New Jos Stadium brought an end to Plateau United’s unbeaten home run this season, having won their previous four matches on their own ground.
Sporting Lagos made an early breakthrough through Aliyu Baba in the 10th minute, but Victor Dawa struck twice to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at the interval.
Victor Samuel restored parity for the visitors in the 53rd minute before Plateau United suffered another setback when Alex Aghahowa was sent off in the closing stages.
Sporting Lagos took advantage of their numerical superiority, with Jacob Aondona finding the net in the 82nd minute to complete the comeback and secure all three points for the visitors.
Speaking after the game, Ogunbote dismissed the suggestion that complacency had affected his players, insisting they had given their best despite the disappointing outcome.
“I think it was a difficult one for us. I won’t say complacency because the boys put in their very best. Unfortunately, we gave up the lead, and things fell apart,” he said.
“The only thing is that we had a bad day, but we will take the positives from it to tell us that it’s a lesson for us to brace up.”
The experienced tactician also acknowledged Sporting Lagos’ performance, admitting that the visitors made good use of their opportunities when they came.
Ogunbote described the defeat as a warning for his team, stressing the need for greater improvement despite their encouraging start to the season.
The result moved Sporting Lagos into third place on the NPFL table with 15 points, while Plateau United slipped to fourth with 14 points, one behind their opponents.