Dundee’s players have done a mea culpa but can’t afford to dwell on their St Mirren shocker.
That is the opinion of midfielder Tom Hateley as the Dark Blues prepare for tonight’s Premiership clash against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The gloom and doom hung over Dens Park for a while after last Saturday’s surprise Scottish Cup 2-0 home defeat to the Buddies, who are detached at the foot of the Championship.
It was a result that sent the Dundee fans away in a bad mood as well as bursting a few fixed-odds coupons.
Hateley conceded that it was as grim as it gets and stressed that the players have accepted full responsibility for letting everybody down.
Nevertheless, he thinks that a line should be drawn under the cup exit with the Dons lying in wait.
He said: “It was just so disappointing for everyone involved.
“Every player would have loved a good cup run and it would have been great for the club and the fans.
“It just wasn’t meant to be.
“It was a poor performance from us and there is no trying to get away from that fact.
“We had been playing well at home but it just wasn’t really our day.
“Although we didn’t play well I still thought we created a couple of chances.
“What we have to do is hold our hands up as players and take the criticism on the chin.
“It’s all part and parcel of the game but hopefully we can do much better at Pittodrie and go on from there.
“It’s about putting it to the back of your mind and looking forward to the Aberdeen game.
“We are in a very tight league and if you have couple of off-weeks then you can be straight back down to the bottom again.
“You don’t want to dwell on it (the cup loss) too much because this can be an unforgiving league.
“So we need to get the focus back on the Premiership now.”
Hateley was asked if the players feel that they owe the fans one for letting them down against the Buddies.
He replied: “Yes, of course we do.
“We had a great couple of weeks’ training leading into the game and nobody saw that result coming.
“So I can understand the fans’ frustration because it was a result they not only didn’t want but probably didn’t expect.
“Of course we would now love to go up there and turn Aberdeen over and get the supporters back onside.
“It would be nice to do that.
“It will be a tough game.
“They have been doing well but you could have said the same about us before last weekend.
“Football can be a funny game sometimes.
“We have put in some good away performances without maybe getting the results, such as against Celtic at Parkhead.
“So we will be going up the road and trying to win the game.
“You are maybe just as well giving it a good go.
“This will be my first trip there as a Dundee player so I’m looking forward to it.
“It is good to go and play at tough venues against quality teams.
“It will be good to get back out there after the St Mirren game.”
The Dons have just snapped up Ryan Christie on loan from Celtic, yet another bit of quality to be added to an already strong squad.
Hateley said: “He will have to tightly marked if he plays but there are a few of them.
“They have good players all over the park.
“But that’s something we will be set up to deal with and will be aware of.
“Most of our lads have played against Aberdeen a few times and know what to expect from them.
“We have good attacking players, have pace and height, and also strength when we need it.
“We know their threats but we have our own as well.”
