Ryan McCord insists Arbroath must improve dramatically if they are to stand any chance of challenging Angus rivals Forfar for the League Two title.
McCord’s disputed 95th-minute leveller cancelled a David McKenna opener as Arbroath rescued a point at home to Annan.
Annan midfielder Omar Kabin and gaffer Jim Chapman were red carded for protesting the validity of the goal.
“We should be playing much better than we are,” said Gayfield midfielder McCord.
“We should be dominating most games but we aren’t. You look at the squad we’ve got, but for some reason it isn’t clicking.
“You can’t keep chasing games the way we have been. We are leaking goals left, right and centre and are leaving ourselves with it all to do.”
He added: “Maybe it’s because we are a new team, but maybe that’s not an excuse any more because we have been together for three months and should have gelled by now.”
Annan manager Chapman and Kabin were furious at both the five minutes’ injury-time and their belief that the Red Lichties star was offside when he netted.
Yet all of their protests could have been incidental had Arbroath taken their chances in a dominant first period.
Bobby Linn was denied three times by Annan keeper Blair Currie and Arbroath twice struck the woodwork.
Bryan Prunty’s low drive crashed off the post and Omar Kader headed off the bar in the first half.
McKennan pounced on a rebound to net from six yards and put Annan ahead, a lead they held until the McCord effort.
Dick Campbell’s men are now nine points adrift of runaway leaders Forfar after six games.