Asante Kotoko coach David Duncan admits his side laboured to beat Bechem United 2-1 in Kumasi in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
The defending champions took the lead through Dauda Mohammed with a powerful header but the visitors equalized through Aminu Mohammed - a former Kotoko player - before the first half.
Five minutes from time, Ivorian Amed Toure converted a deserved penalty kick after fumbling Bechem United goalkeeper Rashid Seidu fouled him well inside the box.
Although Duncan was thrilled to have bagged the points, he thought his side’s performance was not of the best.
“We anticipated a very tough game without a doubt. You should expect any team that comes up against Kotoko doubles up their preparations so this for me was no different,†Duncan is a post-match interview.
“If the indicators from the league log are anything to go by, you would also agree with me that Bechem United aren’t doing badly.
“Some of the places we faltered, they went there and got the result. So for them to have put up such performance against Asante Kotoko is ample testimony it is not an easy side but I thought that we made the game very difficult for ourselves.
“Having gone up by a goal, we squandered a lot of chances and couldn’t put the game to bed to make the second half a walk through the park.â€