St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean admitted that the team had let down the 1,500 Saints fans who had travelled to Dens on Saturday only to see their side lose 3-0.
However, he insists the players will bounce back strongly after the winter break.
MacLean said: “To be fair, we have been good this month and have got away from conceding sloppy goals.
“I think if you look at it today, it appears to be a doing but if you had actually watched the game, it is three bad goals we have lost.
“We had lots of possession but our decision making in the final third let us down.
“But if you lose goals like that, you are not going to win football matches.
“I thought we started the game really well and were on top but then they counter-attacked on us.
“Listen. When you are attacking, you have to be ready for the counter. We have been here before and they do it quite a bit to you.
“But we didn’t deal with it.
“The second goal is just a set play which is recycled and put back into the box and we should have dealt with that while the third goal . . . look they were just bad goals.
“We probably had the majority of possession and final-third entries but that doesn’t win you football games and we know that.
“It is a big derby game and we brought a lot of fans through and we have let them down with the result.
“We have given them plenty of good times and we will be back.
“It is a setback but we will have a rest and return stronger than ever.”
