East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz says his side's 2-0 South Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat against Sauchie Juniors was nowhere near good enough, and taught him things he didn't want to learn.
Rutkiewicz says it was a steep learning curve for his Kilby side as goals from Ross Crawford and Brian Morgan sent Sauchie through to a semi-final against Auchinleck Talbot.
But he says the coming games and weeks ahead will teach him which of his players are up for the fight, as they prepare for a week that sees them host Berwick Rangers on Tuesday and travel to Bo'ness United on Saturday in the Lowland League.
He said: "There's nothing I can take out of the game. We're out the cup, that's about it. I can't take anything from that.
"I've learned a lot that that I didn't want to learn today, but the best team won on the day, it's as simple as that.
"They were very competitive, they played some good football at times because we allowed them to play some good football at times.
"That was a steep learning curve. From minute one the pressure was on this team at the start of the season, they weren't at it, and in the quarter-final of a cup today they weren't at it.
"You don't want to come in here and rip things up, but it's food for thought for [assistant Bill Orr] and I. Going forward we need to be better than that.
"This club has aspirations of being in League Two - come on, I'm not even going to begin to talk about comparing that performance to anywhere near where the ambitions of this club are. It's miles off.
"That was a rough and tumble game, but fair play and congratulations to Sauchie, who deserved it, and we wish them all the best in the cup, going forward."
Rutkiewicz says it's up to his side to show what they're made of as they prepare for an important week.
He said: "Every game presents a chance to bounce back, and for me it doesn't really matter if you win 4-0 or lose 4-0, there's another game of football to be played.
"If you're going to rest on your laurels and take the plaudits when you win, then you're not for me.
"If you're going to put the tools away when you get beat, you're not for me.
"You've got to strive to be better and improve all the time.
"I would look for improvement on Tuesday, and I don't think that would be too hard, but we'll go into it, and the boys just need to dust themselves down."
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