East Fife player-manager Gary Naysmith said his players had let themselves down in their 3-0 defeat to Queen’s Park.
The Fifers had taken plaudits for their performance during the week as they competed well against Rangers in the Pterofac Training Cup before going down 2-0.
But, having taken the praise for that showing, the Methil gaffer said it was only fair they stood up to criticism following their Excelsior Stadium no-show.
Naysmith said: “I don’t publicly criticise the players but they know that’s not good enough. Over the last two or three games it hasn’t been good enough in the league.
“We got credit following the Rangers game but there was no expectation on them so it’s easy to go and want the ball and do different stuff.
“The league is our bread and butter and that’s what I told the players.
“There was no ranting or raving after the game, I just told the players they’d let themselves down. Not so much let me down, but let themselves down because we’re better than we showed.”
Queen’s should have been a goal up within the first five minutes when Shaun Rooney’s pass split the Fife defence and found Ross McPherson.
The striker burst in on goal but his strike was saved by Jordan Millar.
The hosts had taken the game to the Fifers and took a deserved lead from the penalty spot.
Shaun Fraser was brought down inside the box by Jonathan Page and the Queen’s striker picked himself up to take the kick himself, firing high into Miller’s top corner.
Fife striker Ross Campbell was unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line by Rooney shortly before the break.
The home side doubled their advantage in style soon after when Ciaran McElroy wasn’t shut down on the edge of the box and fired past Millar.
In 80 minutes Darren Millar’s free-kick found its way in at the front post to make it 3-0.