St Johnstone skipper Dave Mackay bemoaned a bad day at the office after the Perth club’s bid to retain the Scottish Cup came to a shuddering halt at Palmerston.
The Saints captain refuted any suggestion that his team underestimated Queen of the South ahead of their surprise fifth round exit on Saturday, and praised the Doonhamers for their victory.
But while all the focus will now be on trying to secure a top six spot between now and the end of the season, Mackay admitted he was bitterly disappointed to see the Saints put in such a below par showing in such an important game in their season.
“It was one of the poorer performances we’ve had this season,” he commented.
“Unfortunately it came on such a big occasion.
“We knew how difficult it would be.
“We prepared right.
“The manager did all his homework.
“We started off OK, we had a lot of the ball.
“We just didn’t do enough with it.”
Mackay was understandably downbeat after Saints’ defence of the trophy they won in May ended in Dumfries, and he admitted his team-mates were similarly subdued.
“There wasn’t too much said in the dressing room at the end,” he added.
“We know we didn’t play well enough and it was a big opportunity we’ve let slip but fair play to Queen of the South, they took their chances and good luck to them.”