Cammy Kerr admits the Dundee players have put the fans through the wringer recently but he has urged them to stick by the team for another massive game against Alloa this weekend.
The Dark Blues were expected to bounce back strongly from the 6-2 derby disaster at Tannadice two Fridays ago when they faced Elgin on Sunday at Dens in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup tie.
The home side certainly looked on track to do just that as they took the lead with a stunning long-range strike from Kerr.
However, the home fans could scarcely believe what they were witnessing as the League 2 part-timers equalised and then took what turned out to be an unassailable lead in the space of a couple of mad second-half minutes that also saw Dundee keeper Calum Ferrie red carded.
Not surprisingly, boos rang out from the home fans at the final whistle.
Now, Kerr is determined to give the suffering support reasons to stick by the team again when they line up against the Wasps this weekend.
The 23-year-old said: “It has been a tough week or two for them and this caps it off.
“There is no point trying to wrap it up and put a twist on it. It is what it is.
“It is a really quiet and disappointed dressing-room in there. We know that was a game where we should be getting a result.
“I know the fans would have been going to their work on the Monday (after derby) and I imagine it would have been difficult with the bragging rights from across the road.
“We wanted to send them away from the Elgin game with a smile on their face but it has been another frustrating day.”
Kerr added: “The Alloa game is massive with more pressure but you have to deal with that as a football player.
“You may have to deal with the criticism that comes your way during the week as well.
“You just have to get the head down and work away.
“The fans have backed us massively since the start of the year. The season tickets have been good, the away support has been magnificent as they were last Friday.
“We just have to give them reasons to stick by us.”
Dundee boss James McPake looked shell-shocked after the latest defeat but Kerr insists it is the players who have to put their hands up and take responsibility for the embarrassing result.
The full-back said: “I feel for him because he put a strong team out and put trust in us to win the game but we have let him down.
“It is not his wrong-doing that we went out there and got beaten.
“We have to look at ourselves and take responsibility to say it is not good enough.
“People look back to the last couple of games and the disappointments but we have started the season well.
“We were unbeaten in 90 minutes outwith the Aberdeen game when we were defeated in extra time and had kept a number of clean sheets.
“The last week or two has been disappointing but we have to accept the pressure that we are title contenders or are supposed to be.
“We need to get back to that, pushing with the mentality to win every game.”
