Plateau United coach Abdu Maikaba has expressed excitement after his Jos-based side ended the 6-match unbeaten run of Nasarawa United on Friday in a Match Day 6 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter at the New Jos stadium.

A 36th minute effort from Mohammed Zulkifilu was enough to hand the Peace Boys maximum points at the expense of the Solid Miners, who won 4 and drew 2 of the opening 6 matches of the current campaign to claim top spot on the standings.

The win propelled Maikaba’s men to 5th of the NPFL log, with 11 points from 7 matches, 3 points behind Bala Nikyu’s Nasarawa United.

After enduring a poor start to the campaign that saw them lose 2-0 in their opening game at home to Kwara United and an early exit from the CAF Champions League, the former Wikki Tourists gaffer is delighted results are improving.

“I feel excited actually because we knew, even before the game, it was not going to be easy. It is going to be a difficult game,” the former Akwa United coach said.

“But we are happy we have won, and that was the target, and we are now 3 points behind Nasarawa United.

“So, I believe we are going closer (to the top). With time, the team is improving.”

The 2017 NPFL champions will next face Warri Wolves away from home in a Match Day 8 fixture on Wednesday, and Maikaba says the target is to grab all 3 points at stake in Ozoro for what would be their first away win of the season.

“Actually, we take each game as it comes. So, the next game against Warri Wolves is not going to be different,” he said.

“We are going all out to make sure we have our first away win of the season, because that will catapult us into the top 3 on the log. And that will put us into contention after Week 8, and I will be very happy to get that at the end of the game.”