Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro admits it was difficult to breakdown ten-man Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday evening.
The Buccaneers fell 18 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns after a goalless draw at Athlone Stadium.
Stellenbosch had Brian Onyango sent off ten minutes before the halftime break, but still managed to hold out for a point on home soil.
READ | Pirates frustrated by ten-man Stellenbosch
"I think we were better against 11, " Riveiro told SuperSport after the game.
"Both teams trying to win the match. The moment the opponent is playing with ten, there is intention to win anymore so there is less spaces to play.
"We try but I'm not sure we create enough motions in the box tonight. It's true that we were in control, we have a few chances to win the match but we didn't finalise so many chances today.
"It was so difficult, but whatever I say is going to sound like an excuse but to play here and be precise cannot be in the same sentence.
"We take it. It's one point, obviously not the result we were looking for. We want to win every game but we need to understand there is an opponent that's in front working hard trying to protect the result and they did a good job."