With a string of poor results and the team slipping into relegation, there must have been some gruel under Steve Barker at Stellenbosch FC.
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But it turns out that this is the kind of situation that Barker revels in, and he showed it when he guided the team to a come-from-behind win over Cape Town City on Saturday.
It looked like Cape Town City was with Barker’s side when they took a 2-0 lead in the 41st minute.
Stellies have been toothless for a few games and City coach Eric Tinkler must have thought the points were in the bag.
Trouble for Barker’s side started in the fifth minute when Lorenzo Gordinho put City ahead five minutes into the game.
Darwin Gonzalez doubled his lead in the 41st minute. But two minutes later, Devon Titus pulled one back and brought the Stellies back into the game.
And whatever Barker put into the players’ heads at half-time was because he worked hard in the second half.
And just eight minutes into the second stanza, Titus completed his brace when he scored the equalizer that brought the game to a thrilling finish.
Mngomezulu grabbed the points for Stellies
It was second-half substitute Snethemba Mngomezulu who ensured the Stellies halted their run with a winner six minutes from time.
“There’s pressure and that’s part of football. That’s the nature of the game,” Barker told the media after the game.
“But you know about responding to pressure, about embracing pressure and not running from it.
“It’s about face-to-face and that’s me. The harder it is, the more I come out fighting … and so does the team.
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The win saw the Stellies stabilize somewhat and move them into 12th place in the DStv Premiership standings with 20 points from 19 games.
“The character we showed today was very strong. But there is still pressure, we are not where we want to be.
“Hopefully this will be a catalyst for us to turn the season around positively,” added the former AmaZulu FC mentor.
Barker will be hoping for the same fighting spirit from his side when they meet unpredictable Chippa United in their next game.