Cape Town - Although relieved by Orlando Pirates' 1-0 Telkom Knockout last 16 win over Chippa United, coach Milutin Sredojevic admitted the Buccaneers need to improve quickly.
According to the Serb, Pirates dropped back and invited the Chilli Boys onto them after Vincent Pule scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute.
This irked him, as he had hoped for the opposite approach.
"At half-time, we agreed to go for that hit that would make us go through because nothing is for free," Sredojevic told SuperSport after the game.
"Cup competitions give chances to everyone. We have played against a very good, organised team. It's important to us that in that balanced situation, we scored a goal.
"Later on, subconsciously, under the weight of expectations and desire too, we have dropped back and allowed the opponent to come to us, because when you sit back, you are practically inviting the opponent to come to you.
"This is something which has come subconsciously, not as an instruction, because the instruction was for us to defend with possession."
It was not lost on 'Micho' that this performance came precisely a week ahead of the eagerly anticipated Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium.
"Now, we have peace of mind - we have huge, huge critical aspects to look at, but at the same moment, peace, because that injection of motivation needs to tell us, 'yes, we are capable,'" he said.
"But we need to improve very, very much looking towards Saturday's game against Kaizer Chiefs."