The Dundee players and their manager hit the nail on the head when they said that Saturday’s performance against St Mirren was “unacceptable”.
However, I am fairly sure that the club’s fans who witnessed what unfolded at Dens would use some stronger adjectives to describe the dismal Scottish Cup display.
There will always be an element of “what might have been” if Marcus Haber’s fourth-minute shot had flown just a few inches to the right and had found the back of the net instead of the post.
Even after St Mirren had taken the lead, the big striker had another superb opportunity to level the tie but he sent his header wide.
However, after the Buddies scored their second, at no point did you feel that Dundee would claw their way back into the game.
Considering this was the same Dark Blues team who had defeated St Johnstone 3-0 on Hogmanay, it was bewildering that they could appear so lacklustre against St Mirren.
Dundee had just emerged from their three-week winter break but the players had only been given a few days off and had been back in full training for a fortnight.
They had also had a friendly against Arbroath to keep them ticking over so the break cannot be used as an excuse for the pitiful performance.
Whether there was an element of complacency against a side currently propping up the Championship only the Dundee players will know.
What is certain, though, is they let the club down badly and have to make amends starting at Pittodrie against Aberdeen on Friday night.
