Maritzburg United head coach Fadlu Davids lamented the side's lapse of concentration in critical moments against Orlando Pirates.
Davids' return to Orlando Stadium was an unhappy one, as the Team of Choice suffered a 2-1 defeat on Friday night.
Monnapule Saleng netted the opener for Pirates on the stroke of halftime brefore Terrence Dzvukamanja doubled the lead in the second.
Read: Influential Saleng Gets Pirates Back On Track
"What a fantastic first-half performance especially, well for 90 minutes tactically our boys applied exactly what we asked of them," Davids told SuperSport after the match.
"To concede in a critical moment, in a phase we spoke about, Saleng cutting in more than 90 degrees with a ball into his left foot, very disappointing when you concede just before halftime.
"I think we tried to keep the spirits up because one second later we're going into the half with 0-0, we can build on the momentum because the first-half was definitely ours tactically but not using the chances.
"Not using the better moments to get behind the defence line but from start to finish, we have to galvanize the squad, galvanize the city, galvanize the club to get behind these boys because they were absolutely fantastic.
"We have to take this lessons, Kaizer Chiefs, the lessons tonight and take on SuperSport and the rest of our remaining games because I believe if we can continue like this, not only against bigger clubs, any team we face we can get three points."
Davids felt the KwaZulu-Natal side may have switched off for Pirates' second goal, although he did question the manner in which Pirates scored.
"I think it was just a switch off moment, I don't think we were even ready with our defensive structure, not even knowing the ball is going to be played," he added.
"I was actually surprised that maybe it was played before the whistle but definitely a lapse of concentration, switching off, not dropping in sync as a line to concede the second goal.
"That basically killed the game but the fight after that. Njoti last week out of the squad and that is the message to the entire squad, we have a small squad and if you're not in the team this week, be ready to start next week because anyone can play at any time," he said.
"The best team on the pitch is the most important, not the best players."
