And Main admitted that in the wake of that reversal and the heavy home defeat by Dunfermline, the Saints players need to show greater character and commitment.

“No one was happy with the performance against Partick,” he admitted. “It was shocking.

“We owe it to ourselves and the manager to get the finger out and start working harder.

“I don’t think we are strong enough right now and everyone has to be taking more responsibility.

“We’re all grown men. The least we should be doing is giving it 100% for our group of fans and the boss.

“It’s just not good enough at the moment—we can’t pass, can’t defend, we can’t seem to do anything properly— and that has to change.

“There’s no way I’ll single anyone out because I’m part of it. We all have to look to ourselves and ask how much we really want success.

“Our attitude should be one of let’s get on with it. Everyone’s so disappointed but now we have to go out against Livi and show we can play.

“We have a good group of lads here. But players have to do more. We need leaders, we can’t afford anyone hiding.”

Saints are facing a defensive crisis tonight and not just because they’ve conceded seven goals in two games.

Centre-half Kevin Rutkiewicz has joined Kevin James on the absentee list after being hospitalised.

Rutkiewicz was taken to hospital on Saturday night after complaining of feeling unwell during the Thistle defeat and yesterday was still undergoing tests.

“They think Kevin has some kind of viral infection,” revealed boss Derek McInnes. “Our club doctor is liaising with the hospital docs today to try and find out what progress has been made in diagnosing what’s wrong with him.

“It’s a worry and he’s going to be out of action for the foreseeable future I’d imagine which is a problem for us with Kevin James also being sidelined.”

That leaves Saints with only two recognised central defenders in Steven Anderson and Stuart McCaffrey and with the manager having decided not to pursue his interest in Dan Smith, who has played the last three matches as a trialist, the need for a left-back remains.

“Stuart McCaffrey has a slight problem with his hamstring as well although we’re hoping he’ll be OK,” revealed McInnes.

“And since Saturday night we’ve been actively trying to get someone in for the cup tie.

“We not only need the freshness that would bring, we need the body because we’re not going to do anything on Dan Smith which leaves us really short at the back.

“We had a left-back targeted some weeks ago and made an offer but his club have indicated he isn’t for sale.

“At the minute all our options are up front. The balance of the team is wrong and it’s vital we address that as you need the platform of defending properly to go and win games.

“On Saturday, while three of Partick’s four goals were wonder strikes they came about because we didn’t defend the secondary part of set plays.

“We do a lot of work on set pieces and the players know they don’t drop their man until the ball is in the stand, the opposition half or we have good possession.

“But too many of Thistle’s goals came from guys who should have been picked up and weren’t.”

McInnes admitted, though, his side need to display greater resolve as well as better concentration in defensive situations.

“By losing the goals we are we’re not giving ourselves a chance, and from that comes an anxiety and lack of confidence,” he said.

“But players have to rise above that and stand up to the situation, recognising we won’t always get our way and react in the right manner.

“We’ve got good players here who haven’t become bad overnight.

“We’ve had two horrendous results but we’re only four games into the season and we just have to focus all our energies on the Livingston cup tie.

“There’s nothing can be done about the Dunfermline or Partick games.

“But we can affect what happens tomorrow night and I’m looking for the players to show the hunger and determination needed to go and get the result we need.