Raith Rovers striker Mark Stewart refused to blame fatigue as the Kirkcaldy side followed two spirited cup performances against Hearts with a dismal 3-1 home defeat to Dumbarton.
Rovers produced a jaded performance after going to extra-time at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, but Stewart insisted that the midweek exertions should not have been a factor.
“We can’t use that as an excuse because it happens to everybody,” he said.
“It was a tough couple of games on Sunday and Wednesday but we’re fit, full-time players.
“We just performed very poorly in the second half and got well beaten.
“It shouldn’t have been like that. It’s just the way it’s going and we need to get out of this rut we’re stuck in.”
Raith led 1-0 at half-time thanks to Ryan Hardie’s opener but they capitulated in the second half, conceding three times in 17 minutes to crash to a fourth straight league defeat.
Rovers are also now 12 games without a win and the pressure is beginning to build on boss Gary Locke as the Kirkcaldy side continue to slide down the Championship table.
“The effects of Wednesday probably took its toll,” said Locke.
“Although we went into the lead, the first half was an OK performance but not anything near the last two games.
“In the second half we just ran out of legs but I’m not going to use it as an excuse. We’ve got to make sure we do better than that.
“It’s really disappointing and I’m hurting at the moment, but the only way we’re going to get back to winning ways is by working hard and making sure we get to the levels we showed on Wednesday night.”
Dumbarton started strongly and Raith required Kevin Cuthbert to make two excellent saves in the opening exchanges from Robert Thomson and Sam Stanton.
Raith almost struck on 12 minutes when Ross Callachan’s deflected effort forced an awkward save from Sons ‘keeper Alan Martin.
The hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances on 26 minutes when Stewart barged defender Gregor Buchanan to the ground, but referee Mat Northcroft waved play on and the striker crossed for Ryan Hardie to sweep home at the near post.
Rovers held their lead until four minutes after the break when Daniel Harvie’s cross was met by Christian Nade whose downward header bounced beyond the reach of Cuthbert.
The goal seemed to deflate Rovers and six minutes later they conceded again when Harvie was afforded time and space at the edge of the area, and his effort took a deflection off Raith captain Jason Thomson and spun into the far corner of the net.
Worse was to follow for the home side as on 62 minutes, an Andrew Stirling corner skidded across the six yard line to Buchanan lurking at the back post, and he fired in Dumbarton’s third.
Raith never looked like recovering and the full-time whistle was met by a barrage of boos from the home fans.
