Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen defiantly insists his side still have a chance of avoiding relegation despite letting one lifeline slip through their fingers earlier this week.
The Tangerines travelled to face Partick Thistle on Tuesday night knowing that a win would cut the gap between themselves at the foot of the table and second bottom Kilmarnock to just two points.
United were determined to heap further pressure on the Ayrshire side and dominated the first-half against the Jags, creating a succession of gilt-edged chances.
However, they could not take any of them and were left to rue those missed opportunities when Kris Doolan scored what proved to be the winner for the home side in the second-half.
With just six league games left, no-one at Tannadice needs reminding that time is running out on their “great escape” bid but Paatelainen insists there will be further twists and turns and his side still have a chance.
He said: “It was obviously a setback (at Firhill) because we had a great opportunity but at the same time we weren’t counting our chickens before the match. Partick Thistle are a good side.
“We didn’t take anything for granted and it was always in our mind that we could lose the game.
“We feel that we still have a chance, obviously depending on what Kilmarnock do and the other teams.
“But it was an opportunity lost. We move on to Caley Thistle and we play another difficult match.
“There is still a chance. It’s five points, it’s more than a victory so it is a comfortable cushion (for Killie) in that respect.
“Kilmarnock will win, they will win. They won’t lose every match between now and the end of the season.
“That’s not just mind games. Someone said that, but it’s not mind games it’s a fact.
“We need to be really strong and whenever we play well we must win so that’s why Tuesday was so disappointing.
“But it’s gone and now we move on.
“At the moment we are more or less, not in touching distance, but not far off it. So we feel we have a chance.
“I feel Kilmarnock feel that Dundee United have a chance, I’m sure they do.
“There are still 18 points available so it will be interesting.”
Paatelainen added: “Our matches are all so, so important and the knife really is at our throat, there is no question. It has been a few months.
“When we were 13, 14 points adrift, the knife was digging in big time but we never lost the belief, we never lost the enthusiasm, we never lost the hope and that’s why the gap was reduced.
“I don’t like this kind of talk because this is like the end of the season talk and we are nowhere near the end of the season.
We are in with a chance.”
Of course, after today’s assignment, United have another pressing engagement at Hampden next Saturday against Hibs in the semi-final of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
However, Paatelainen insists that game at the National Stadium will not distract the players from their vital league business.
“Obviously the league is the most important thing, there is no question, but the cup is massive also, so you know it could be a fantastic end to the season if everything goes the way we want it to go.
“But I think everybody’s concentration is on this Saturday because of where we are. It’s easy, I don’t need to drum that into the boys too much.
Every match in the league is a cup final.”