Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi feels his side made the game difficult for themselves despite claiming a 3-2 win over SuperSport United at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Buccaneers went two goals down early in the first half through Kegan Johannes and Gamphani Lungu but, thanks to a brace by Deon Hotto and a goal from Goodman Mosele, Pirates fought back to secure all three points.

Pirates are now within 16 points of log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on 35 points after 23 games, while SuperSport are placed seventh on the table with 29 points from 21 matches.

Ncikazi bemoaned his side’s missed chances in the final third, also expressing his disappointment at conceding two early goals.

“We just make things very difficult for ourselves. It’s not the first time. When we played the team against Swaziland, same scenario. I can count the number of games. We seem not to be good learners. I thought we had enough chances even first half before we scored. We had enough chances. It’s just that sickness,” Ncikazi told SuperSport TV after the game.

“We had clear-cut chances. We are just failing with that important part of scoring, but let me not sound ungrateful for the fightback that the players had. From two goals down and they come back and win the match. Congratulations to them, nerve-wracking. But it’s the nature of the game. Not the prettiest of matches. The surface was not allowing, which is why we went for competition and duel rather than trying to play pretty.

“If you look at the number of chances created, I don’t think they created a lot of chances other than the last one that I saw now. But, other than that, you can count the chances that we created. I think the team that deserved to win today is Pirates. Take the chances. Even the score would be six, according to my scale from the bench.

“Create the winning mentality. Take the chances that we create. Create the unity within the team. Close the ears on what is happening outside. Give them the confidence. Confident teams win matches. Happy players win matches. I know the outcry from our supporters but we try protect the players. Let it be about us and not about them, because they are doing well.

“It’s not a lack of effort from that side, we are just missing that we are not scoring the chances that we create. Count all the matches that we lost. Count all the matches that we drew. It’s just the fact that we are not scoring. It happens for now but I think it will change very soon,” he added.