Dundee’s Paul McGowan admits it is time for the team to “man up” as they try to turn around what has been a dismal start to the season.
The Dark Blues remain without a Premiership point to their name after Saturday’s defeat to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
A second-half Tony Watt goal separated the sides with McGowan confessing that the counter knocked the stuffing out of his team.
The 30-year-old midfielder insists there are good footballers at Dens but they now need to start showing grit as well as guile.
McGowan said: “It is disappointing. Even the goal we lost is disappointing.
“The first half we knocked it about well and we had a chance that just went by the post.
“They had chances as well so it was kind of an even game in the first half.
“Then we lost the goal and I think it took a wee bit of the stuffing out of us.
“We tried to regroup with St Johnstone sitting back. We had the chance through Sofien Moussa’s header near the end but it’s just not happening for us right now.
“There are good players in that changing-room but we need to man up now.
“If you look through our team, they are all good footballers but that only gets you so far.”
McGowan added: “When we go a goal behind, we need to start taking the ball and doing the things we have been doing and hopefully it will turn for us because we are having no luck at all.
“Last week (against Ayr) you could say it just wasn’t us but we need to start picking up points quickly.”
The travelling support made their feelings known at the final whistle with Dundee boss Neil McCann admitting he understood their frustrations.
He said: “I don’t have any gripes with the fans showing their disappointment at the end because we all want to win the game.
“I have no complaints. I just want them to stick by the players and make sure they continue to support because we are still working away.”
