Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter slammed the "cabbage patch" pitch of Bloemfontein Celtic after a 0-0 draw Wednesday in the South African Premiership.

Celtic share the Free State Stadium with Super 15 rugby franchise Central Cheetahs and numerous visiting football clubs have criticised the bumpy, heavy surface.

"We played decent football on a cabbage patch," said Baxter as the league resumed after a six-week break for the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

"But we could have played much better football on a better pitch. I hope this is one point gained rather than two points lost."

It was the only the fifth time in 19 Premiership games this season that Chiefs dropped points as they pursue a second title in three years under England-born Baxter.

After a lively game of few clearcut chances, Chiefs had their lead over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns trimmed to 13 points with a third of the season left.

Chiefs have 47 points and Sundowns 34 with a game in hand, and both must adjust their sights this weekend to the CAF Champions League.

Sundowns visit the Seychelles for a preliminary fixture against Saint Michel United while Chiefs host Township Rollers of Botswana in Soweto.

While Chiefs created few openings against Celtic, Sundowns scored four goals within 13 first-half minutes en route to a 4-1 drubbing of lowly Moroka Swallows in Pretoria.

Zimbabwean striker Cuthbert Malajila bagged a brace and there was one goal each from Dutch centre-back Aljie Schut and midfielder Teko Modise.

Swallows' Nigeria-born goalkeeper Greg Etafia will have recurring nightmares over the Modise goal as he took his eye off a long-range free-kick and allowed the ball slip into the net.

Unfashionable Johannesburg outfit Wits stayed third -- below Sundowns on goal difference -- with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Maritzburg United.

All the goals came during the opening half in KwaZulu-Natal capital Pietermaritzburg with Ghanaian Mohammed Anas putting United ahead, Sandile Zuke levelling and Ethiopian Fikru Tefera grabbing the winner.

Former African champions Orlando Pirates lie fifth, five points adrift of Sundowns and Wits, after fighting back to win 2-1 at bottom club AmaZulu.

Former Buccaneers defender Mbulelo Mabizela scored midway through the second half only for ex-AmaZulu striker Lehlohonolo Majoro to equalise and Kermit Erasmus snatched the winner.

It was a round of fightbacks with Polokwane City scoring in stoppage time to force a 1-1 draw at Ajax Cape Town and Free State Stars wiping out a two-goal deficit to hold SuperSport United 2-2 in Pretoria.