Things haven't descended into a state of deurmekaar for Cape Town City but the diagnosis is clear: the Citizens suffer bouts of somnambulism.
City head coach Benni McCarthy needs to devise a cure that will shake his charges out of the apparent sickness that has cost them 12 precious points and a cup.
The disease sets in in the last 20 minutes and becomes rife in the final 10. In eight Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounters, McCarthy's men have been caught sleepwalking five times.
The problematic pattern manifests itself in the 82nd minute. It resulted in City registering one victory and four losses in five matches.
"Look at the stats, look at the performances," the 39-year-old rebutted in dismissing talk of a burst bubble following a formidable start of a five-match unbeaten run [in all competitions] which culminated in the MTN8 cup final.
"The main problem right now is that our concentration levels are letting us down during key moments in the game," he told a media conference.
Correct coach, and the numbers confirm the diagnosis. After sprinting to a 3-0 lead against Platinum Stars, City gifted their struggling visitors a consolation goal in the 82nd minute via marksman Robert Ng'ambi.
The trend continued when Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates collected six points in successive matches.
Chiefs won 2-0, young striker Wiseman Meyiwa scoring the second goal in the 82nd. The 82nd snooze action was again evident when Pirates beat them 1-0 courtesy of Thabo Qalinge's solitary strike.
In the cup final two weeks ago, they let in an equaliser in the 80th minute, forcing the match into extra time which City eventually lost in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Last Sunday, the Citizens presented Chippa United their maiden win of the season - coming after five draws - when Katlego Mashego scored the winner in the 72nd minute.
Riled by the defeats to Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa, McCarthy cut a frustrated figure. He lambasted his senior players.
"They need a slap or two. It was a massive disappointment. I don't know if I could blame myself, because what can you do when the team doesn't pitch up in the second half?" he asked angrily.
"I think some players... senior players should take responsibility. They're not kids anymore. Football is a game of two halves. You can't just play one half and not pitch up in the second half.
"I'm tired of making excuses, saying the coach didn't do this or that. Players have to stand up and be counted and take some responsibility," McCarthy added.
The Citizens begin the defence of their Telkom Knockout crown today against high-riding Baroka FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium at 3.30pm. Away from home they have to address their soft underbelly quickly.
In PSL table-toppers Baroka they face a free-scoring opponent whose 12 goals make them the second highest netbusters after second-placed Lamontville Golden Arrows.
City's mini slump has got under the skin of novice coach McCarthy as he goes through a moment of sudden and great revelation.
By now, the man from Hanover Park is realising that the coaching world is nie pap n vleis nie.
He has shouted "jou ma se p**s" at an opposition player after a rough tackle on his player Teko Modise.
To his credit, he apologised for the foul mouth. "Don't tell me about that cow," he referred to referee Phillip Tinyane when asked about the whistleman's performance.
McCarthy had the opportunity to win his first trophy as head coach ahead of Chiefs' Steve Komphela and that went pear-shaped in the penalties. He will learn... the defeats are necessary to thicken his skin.
In the interim, McCarthy will do well to remind his Citizens that there are 20 crucial minutes in football: the first five of the first half, the last five before the break, the first five after half time, and the last five to 90 minutes.
If they don't get that right, things will become really deurmekaar.
