Heart of Lions forward Stephen Afoakwah has admitted his side showed too much respect to Hearts of Oak, allowing the Phobians to dominate their Ghana Premier League encounter and secure a convincing 3-0 victory on Sunday.

Hearts delivered an impressive attacking performance at the University of Ghana Stadium, scoring twice in the first half and adding another shortly after the break to extend their unbeaten home run.

Afoakwah believes his side's approach to the game contributed significantly to their defeat, insisting they were too cautious against their opponents and failed to match their intensity.

"We went into the game timidly. We gave so much respect to the past team. We gave so much respect to the players. They came in hard, and we were relaxed. We were so relaxed. So, they took their chances, and they won the game. So, we gave them too much respect. Yes, the respect was too much," he said.

The Phobians needed just two minutes to break the deadlock, with Ransford Mensah scoring with a left-footed effort following a scramble inside the penalty area.

John Antwi doubled their advantage after capitalising on confusion in the visitors' defence from a well-rehearsed free-kick routine.

The experienced forward then completed his brace just two minutes into the second half, putting the result beyond doubt.

The victory moves Hearts to second place with 19 points, just one behind defending champions Medeama, while Heart of Lions continue to struggle for consistency.

Afoakwah's admission highlights the defensive and tactical shortcomings his side must address as they seek to recover from their disappointing result.