Stephen Robinson admits there's no more margin for error after their disappointing opening day Premier Sports Cup defeat against Arbroath.
The Championship side plundered Paisley for all three points after Dylan Paterson's dramatic late winner stunned the Buddies.
St Mirren have the perfect chance to bounce back from the loss when they face Lowland League side Cowdenbeath this weekend.
And Robinson knows the Saints can't afford another slip-up if they're to have any chance of toppling the Smokies at the top of Group E.
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Robinson told Express Sport: "All we can do now is make sure we win all the remaining games. There's no two ways about it.
"There's no blame game against anyone specifically. Collectively, we all need to be better.
"I still know we're still a wee bit away from where we want to be.
"We need to get players fit and into the starting XI. Jonah Ayunga hasn't played since April and has come up from League One.
"We're missing Curtis Main, Eamonn Brophy, Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus. Baccus isn't even in the country, never mind on the pitch.
"So we are four or five potential starters away from our strongest side.
"Strain will hopefully be involved against Cowdenbeath. Keanu we're at the mercy of the UK Government, which in itself scares the life out of me.
"Brophy may get some game time, Main is probably another week away on top of that.
"It's difficult. But ultimately I've put this team together, I've made the six signings and it's up to me to get better out of them which I'm confident we will do."
While St Mirren were below par against Arbroath on Saturday, they did still produce enough chances in the second half that could have seen them topple their Championship opponents.
Robinson did give Ian Campbell's men credit for fighting to the final whistle, sealing all three points with the final kick of the game.
Robinson added: "We looked really leggy throughout the game. If we'd drawn and maybe won on penalties it might have papered over the cracks.
"We need to be fitter. As a team, we're much, much better than that.
"It's a wake up call. We need to do much better. We didn't press very well and we sat too deep.
"There's lots to work on. We had chances to score, hit the crossbar and had balls cleared off the line.
"Collectively, as a group we all need to do better. It's three weeks into a pre-season where we've added six players.
"Credit to Arbroath. They're a part-time team, they fought and scrapped to the death. There's a lot to be admired about them."
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