Dundee United boss Peter Houston says his players are all still hurting after their Scottish Communities League Cup exit to First Division Falkirk.
Steven Pressley’s youthful side progressed to the semi-finals of the competition on Tuesday night after winning an extra-time penalty shoot-out a result which leaves United without a victory in their last five matches.
But Houston insists that while being disappointed with the current poor run of form, he cannot ask any more of his players in terms of effort and he believes it is only a matter of time before their luck turns around.
He said: ”I have watched the game back on DVD and I have to say that I think Falkirk were anointed because the game should have been over with the amount of chances we had.
”When you lose to a lower-league club people ask questions, but our players gave me everything.
”If you go into a game and your players have downed tools, then you have a major problem. That’s not the case. I would be worried if I thought the players had tossed it in, but they’ve not.
”You can see that from the amount of work they put in. We have a lot of tired legs today. As long as I get everything they’ve got from the players, then I’ll go with it.
”If it’s not good enough in the end, then fair enough, but they are giving their all to win matches for this football club.
”The team worked hard and if our finishing had been anything like it should have been, the match would have been over by half-time.”
Houston added: “It was a combination of our finishing and some great goalkeeping from Michael McGovern. He probably won’t have another game like that in his life.
”I can understand the fans’ frustration because Dundee United should be winning against a young Falkirk side at home.
”I won’t make excuses, but I stand by the players because there’s not one of them who didn’t give 100% and are not as gutted as the fans.
”You saw that at the end the boys were absolutely devastated to go out on penalties.”
Willo Flood was the unfortunate United player who missed his spot-kick to cost his side dear and Houston said the Irish midfielder was inconsolable.
He said: ”Willo texted me in the middle of the night saying sorry, but he didn’t need to do that. The boys were in the gym doing a recovery session today and Willo was telling us that he feels he’s let us all down.
”Nobody here is looking at it that way. We all stick together. There is a togetherness in the squad and a determination to start winning games again.
”I don’t think the ball is bouncing for us right now. When you go through runs like this, you need a change of luck and working hard will make it come.
”If I get the same work rate and effort, then I’m sure the chances we are creating will start going in the net. What we need is a wee rub of the green.”
Houston also admitted that the side need the fans’ backing more than ever to help them out of the current slump.
He added: ”We need the fans behind us and I think going to Dunfermline on Saturday is good because our away supporters are always vociferous. I’m sure the fans will stick by us.”