Proper planning, a solid defence and knowing what they would be up against was key for AmaZulu to get past neighbours Lamontville Golden Arrows in their provincial derby in Durban on Saturday, said coach Arthur Zwane.

AmaZulu won 1-0 with a 65th minute goal from top scorer Thando Ngwenya to consolidate third place in the Betway Premiership and stay in touch with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.

“It was always going to be a tough one, especially playing against a team that scored four goals against Chippa in their last match and facing us in the peak of their performance,” said Zwane.

“Arrows are one of the top teams, with top quality players, top coach. But if there's one thing about our team, it is that we plan for you. We will defend well, we will always wait for the right moment. We'll give the ball away cheaply because football is a game of mistakes but the mistakes that you are going to commit, we’re going to punish you. So, in short, I would say we have soldiers, we have players that can take the pain.”

Zwane said his side made a bright start but “at some point we gave them time and space on the ball, to control the tempo.”

He admitted it was not a game of many chances. “We are a team that will create at least three-four clean opportunities, but this game was so, so tight in such a way that we couldn't find many spaces.

“What was key for us was we were playing at home, we needed to get maximum points. So credit to the players, we continue grinding out results at home, but sometimes we’ve got to play scrappy games, but as long as we keep on winning,” the coach added.