Forfar Athletic manager Dick Campbell said the hunger was lacking among his players as they sunk to 2-1 home reverse to lowly East Fife.
Campbell claimed the Fifers wanted the result more and no one could deny Gary Naismith’s side deserved the three points.
He said: “To say I am disappointed is an understatement. They were bad goals to lose from our point of view, never mind the timing of them.
“I can’t believe we went in at half time 2-1 down but East Fife battled hard and deserved to win. They wanted it more than us. We looked like we were going through the motions in the first half.
“I thought the referee could have given two penalties but that would be taking it away from East Fife if we had won today.
“It is disappointing as we would have been right back in it with the way results went, but now we have Rangers and Dunfermline away in our next two games.
“We had plenty to play for today but it did not look like it. I can’t believe after the run we were on we have come off the back of defeats to Airdrie and East Fife.”
Campbell admitted his side had been hit hard by injuries and suspensions but refused to use that as an excuse.
“It is the same for everyone. There was just something missing today and East Fife wanted it more than us.”
Fifers manager Gary Naismith admitted he was a very happy man.
“That is two different types of winning we have shown in last two weeks and they are both as important.
“Last week we thoroughly deserved to win and perhaps today I don’t think we deserved to. We ground a result out and that is what it is all about at this stage results.
“It has changed for us in recent weeks and all credit to the players to come back from a 5-0 defeat and get six points from away games at Dunfermline and Forfar.”
Naismith also praised goalkeeper Jack Hamilton after bringing him in on loan but said everyone had played well for him. An entertaining first half see-sawed back and forth after Forfar started brightly.
Jack Hamilton in the visitors’ goal was kept busy and had to look sharp to smother a shot from Forfar’s Chris Duggan.
He then blocked shots from Dale Hilson and Chris Templeman at the expense of a corner and from the kick Martyn Fotheringham’s cross was headed home by Duggan in the 33rd minute.
But East Fife hit back quickly. Just a minute later, Liam Buchanan fired high into the net from eight yards after a Nathan Austin shot was only parried.
Then right on the stroke of half time, East Fife made a lightning break up the left and Kevin Smith’s low centre was well tucked home from six yards by Austin.
Scoring opportunities were few in the second half, although Forfar enjoyed the better possession. But it was East Fife who went closest with two late chances.
Austin headed on to the roof of the net with seven minutes remaining then Buchanan cracked a shot off the crossbar with goalkeeper Hill well beaten.