Friday’s 2-2 draw at Richards Bay was a real blow to their title hopes, with rivals Mamelodi Sundowns still a point ahead and now with a game in hand.
It leaves Pirates on 55 points from their 24 games to date, which is exactly the same as in the 2024/25 season, when they also had 55 points with six games to go.
So it is fair to say they are not really any better off than they were 12 months ago, despite the perception that this season they have been vastly improved.
Where this is perhaps reflected is in their goal difference. After 24 games they had scored 31 goals in 2024/25 compared to 47 this campaign, a massive leap. They had also conceded 17 goals at this stage last term compared to 11 this one.
It leaves them with a +36 goal difference compared to +17 last season, but the reality is that this has not translated into more points.
All it means is they are winning games by greater margins, but not more matches, which is the crucial statistic.
In fact, after 24 games in 2024/25 they had 18 wins, one draw and five defeats. Now they have 17 wins, four draws and three defeats. They have actually won one game fewer this season compared to the same stage last year.
Interestingly, Sundowns were not a whole lot better off last season at this stage, with the suggestion that it is their inconsistency this campaign that has fuelled Pirates’ title challenge.
Sundowns have 56 points from their 23 games in 2025/26, while at the same stage last season they had 58 points, a difference of just two.
When viewed like that, this year’s title race is really not that different at all from last year’s, when Sundowns eventually won the championship by 12 points.
Neutrals will hope it is a lot closer this time round to give us some interest into May, but Friday’s result shows why that may not be the case.