The Dervishes were reportedly on the verge of sacking the Dutchman after they exited the African Champions League from the group stage before replicating their poor displays on the domestic front.

The club's board of directors gave him a vote of confidence despite a flurry of criticism from the team's faithful and their cause was supported by a convincing win over Gaish.

Ismaili snapped a three-match winless streak after brushing aside the visitors to move into sixth spot in the league table on 13 points.

They will be able to leapfrog ENPPI into the fourth place if they win their two games in hand. Farouk Gaafar's Gaish are third from bottom on eight points from nine games.

Nigerian striker Godwin Ndubuisi opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the area for his second league goal after joining Ismaili in the close season.

Gaish had a chance to equalize on 22 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after defender Ahmed Hegazi, who was a member of Egypt's youth team that reached the African Championship earlier this week, fouled Amer Sabri.

Ghanaian striker Ernest Papa Arko stepped up but blasted his spot kick high over.

"The wasted penalty was a turning point," Wotte, who took charge of Ismaili in the summer for a second stint at the helm, told the post-match news conference.

"If Papa Arko converted it the match could have changed. It would have boosted the morale of Gaish players and affected ours."

Playmaker Abdullah Saied doubled Ismaili's advantage in the 51st minute with a superb low shot.

Winger Ahmed Samir Farag converted a penalty one minute from time to put the result beyond doubt and take his tally to five league goals, on level with Ittihad's Cameroonian striker Edet Otobong.