A Taariq Fielies strike five minutes from time secured the three points for the Citizens, snapping their four-match losing streak, as head coach McCarthy was able to crack a smile after the game.
“I could feel that rope tightening around my neck, like I was playing hangman,” he joked. “But I’m happy with the team’s effort. Today the guys showed a lot of grit. We had our backs against the wall, and it’s not easy trying to play well and win games when you’ve lost four in a row. Mentally it drains you and frightens the living crap out of most of the players, me included.
“So it’s a massive relief, even more than when I won the biggest awards in my playing career. The six games we won earlier this season means nothing compared to the feeling I have now after winning this one.”
McCarthy was delighted with his team’s response after a tough month, hailing his players’ attitude in the hard-fought victory.
“I asked them to have a bit more desire as a team,” he said. “It’s all good when we have fun and joke, but when it comes to matches, that desire has been missing since we lost the MTN8 final. So I wanted that unity and desire back, as the quality is undoubtedly there.
“We’ve played good football, but just have not been able to concentrate properly, and haven’t had the desire we had in this game against Stars. And it seems our luck and fortunes have changed.”
Owing to the FIFA international break and their Telkom Knockout exit, City now have a three-week break before hosting table-toppers Baroka FC in the Mother City on Wednesday, 22 November.