Dundee fans have been in this position before.
Staring relegation in the face as their team seem powerless to pick up results.
That’s how it feels after a third defeat to Ross County this term, all damaging in different ways.
Again on Saturday, the Dark Blues threw away a winning position.
There are now eight points between Dundee and the assurance of safety, so let’s take an aspect from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat for each of those points.
Adam Legzdins
Dundee’s goalkeeper has been a reliable presence for much of the season but in two key moments against the Staggies this season he’s been found wanting.
With his side 2-1 up in Dingwall, Legzdins had a moment to forget as County equalised from a corner.
On Saturday once more his side led and, once more, Legzdins let in a poor goal, beaten at his near post by Joseph Hungbo.
The goalkeeper did make amends with a second-half penalty save but the damage that equaliser did to his side’s confidence was sizeable.
Ryan Sweeney
On the whole Sweeney defended manfully and dominated Staggies target man Jordan White.
But on the ball he struggled. An error from kick-off set the tone second half, as Dundee’s usual long ball into the corner hit the man in front of Sweeney, putting the hosts on the back foot immediately.
And then came the calamity for the second goal.
Cammy Kerr
Kerr has been Dundee’s best player in recent weeks, even playing out of position.
But he won’t look back on Saturday’s second half fondly.
He was unfortunate with the handball for the penalty but had no complaints.
A complete lack of communication between the full-back and central defender Sweeney later on proved even more costly.
Kerr ended up in a heap and there was no catching Charles-Cook.
James McPake
Any confidence in the manager from the stands that was left before Saturday has surely ebbed away after another collapse.
The irony is McPake got his team selection right, opting for legs and energy in midfield with Jordan McGhee and Max Anderson, both of whom had impressive first 45s.
But he was unable to lift his side at the break and that’s what his job right now has boiled down to, finding a way to inject some confidence into his ailing team.
As it stands, there are no plans to make a change in the dugout, though a telephone call from across the Atlantic would change that quickly.
Ross County
The Staggies were decent and dominated the second half but were afforded the chance by mistakes from their opponents and Dundee’s fragility in key moments.
Zak Rudden
The bright part of the game came when Rudden fired in his first Dundee goal and did so expertly.
Overall, he didn’t have a great game, didn’t hold the ball up as well as he needs to and was well-marshalled by the County defence.
But he got one chance and he smashed it in, that’s a trait the Dark Blues desperately need right now.
Max Anderson chance
Ifs, buts and maybes – if your auntie had a certain piece of anatomy, she’d be your uncle and all that.
But if – IF – Max Anderson had connected better with the excellent Paul McMullan’s cross, the complexion of the game would have been completely different at 2-0.
What lies ahead
Dundee have recently faced Livingston, St Johnstone, Dundee United and Ross County – the teams just above them in the table – and come away with no wins.
Next in the league they face third-place Hearts and top-of-the-tree Celtic away from home.
Beyond that there are only seven games before the split with eight points to make up to ensure survival.
Wins are needed before that comes around.
Right now, there’s no sign of those coming.
