John Baird admitted Raith Rovers are causing their own problems after Saturday’s home defeat to title chasers Falkirk made it 10 league games without a win.
Rovers were on course to end their woeful run as they led 2-1 at half-time, but they crumbled after the break, conceding three goals as the Bairns kept the heat on league leaders Dundee.
Baird, who found the net for the third Saturday in a row since rejoining the club from Partick, said: “We deserved to be in the lead at half-time, we dominated the game and played football in the right areas.
“We just have to think positive. If we win next week we’re in a Scottish Cup semi-final, then we’ve got another home game after that.”
Rovers’ defensive frailties were exposed in the 18th minute when Falkirk were gifted the lead thanks to a calamitous own goal.
Bairns striker Mark Beck knocked a Mark Millar corner back across goal, causing panic in the six-yard box, and in their frantic attempts to clear Rovers only succeeded in knocking the ball into their own net, with defender Dougie Hill getting the last touch.
Rovers responded quickly and only a great save from Michael McGovern prevented Lewis Vaughan’s header restoring parity within 60 seconds.
The home side continued to attack and were rewarded in the 21st minute when Baird bulleted home a header from Grant Anderson’s pinpoint cross for 1-1.
Six minutes later, Raith took the lead when Anderson was upended in the box by Millar and referee Euan Anderson pointed to the spot.
Callum Booth stepped up and sent his penalty straight down the middle. Falkirk tried to hit back and Lee Robinson was called to make an acrobatic diving save to keep out Beck’s header.
A pivotal moment in the match arrived just a minute before the break as Joe Cardle’s pass appeared to set Baird up for a back post tap-in, but McGovern flew across his line to make a crucial block.
That save looked all the more important just 50 seconds into the second half when the visitors levelled. Beck again caused the danger with a flick-on from a long throw, and David McCracken volleyed home unmarked from six yards out.
The game was swinging the visitors’ way and they got their noses in front with 20 minutes left. The Raith defence was posted missing as Rory Loy latched on to a bouncing through ball to chip it over Robinson.
Rovers pushed for an equaliser, but Falkirk wrapped up the win in the 87th minute when Millar curled a free-kick past a motionless Robinson from 22 yards.
Rovers boss Grant Murray said: “We’re trying every week to break this run, but we’ve got to become tighter defensively.”