Milutin Sredojevic: Orlando Pirates still need to improve despite Chippa United win

Orlando Pirates head coach Milutin ' Micho' Sredoejvic was a relieved man following his side's narrow victory over Chippa United on Wednesday night.

Chippa defender Gerald Modisane scored an own goal which helped the Buccaneers as they edged out the Chilli Boys 1-0 in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

“First of all I believe we had controlled the game very well it was not easy they’re a competitive team that plays with good possession. Everything went well we were leading first half,” Sredojevic told SuperSport TV.

The Buccaneers struggled after they were reduced to 10 men following Mthokozisi Dube's dismissal in the second half, but they managed to secure their first win of the season. 
 
“In the second half we wanted to kill the game however that unfortunate red card of our player put us in the back foot. In the last 15 minutes, we were playing with a player less and the opponent had the advantage," he continued.

The Serbian trainer stated that his charges still need to learn many things after overcoming the Chilli Boys.

"They had the advantage of numbers and dominating. However, whether you’re winning or trailing you’re training to play with one player less. There’s many more to come. We need to learn so many things," Sredojevic said.
 
The Chilli Boys crowded the central midfield as they looked to dominate the match. Kurt Lentjies, Thamsanqa Sangweni and Xolani Moholo all operated in the middle of the park for the hosts.
 
“Kurt Lentjies, [Thamsanqa] Sangweni and whoever their third player in midfield were battling with our three midfielders. This was the main battle, the mother of all battles. I’m happy with some aspects of our performance and I’m happy with the result but there’s so much to improve in the next matches ahead of us,” he concluded.
 
Meanwhile, Pirates midfielder Xola Mlambo scooped his second man of the match award in as many games. 

The 27-year-old player also produced a good performance during Bucs' 1-1 stalemate with Highlands Park at the Orlando Stadium in their first league game of the season last weekend.

“It was a heavy week to be honest, we played against two good teams in a short space of time. We had to travel to PE, the weather is not as good as it is in Jo’burg,” Mlambo said in the post-match interview. 

“So we had to acclimatize quickly, it wasn’t an easy game they kept coming at us it became difficult when we got the red card but I’m glad my boys managed to pull through. This is an accolade to the whole team. I don’t deserve it alone, if it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be victorious today,” he said.

Mlambo also praised his teammates Mpho Makola, Musa Nyatama and Happy Jele, who worked tirelessly on the night.

“Mpho Makola, it was his first game [of the season], he gave us a good game. He kept us on the run and helped us to defend. Musa [Nyatama] as well, he’s a senior player, he’s managing the game well," Mlambo continued.

"Our defence, captain Happy [Jele] they make everything easy for me in the middle of the park. They’re giving me all the credit but to be obvious I think this award deserves to go to the team," Mlambo added.

“To manage to come out with the three points here in PE playing with a man short is not an easy fight and they pulled through today. It’s an award to the technical team, the substitutions they made were spot on,” Mlambo concluded.

Pirates will host SuperSport United in the 2018 MTN8 Cup quarter-final match at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.