Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen admitted relegation is “very, very close” after watching his side crash to a 3-1 defeat to Hamilton Accies.
United had a double incentive going into yesterday’s crucial Premiership game at Tannadice.
Win and they would have closed the gap on second-bottom Kilmarnock to five points.
They would also have ensured they were not facing the dire prospect of being put down by their city rivals Dundee next Monday night at Dens Park.
As it was, they failed miserably.
An ashen-faced manager faced the media afterwards, with the chanting of the protesting fans to be heard from outside Tannadice as he spoke.
It was suggested to Paatelainen that it now looked done and dusted for them as far as relegation goes.
He replied: “It is very, very close today.
“Of course, mathematically it is still possible (to survive) but we are not stupid.
“When you get beat like that it is so obvious it is not good enough.
“The way the match started I could not believe my eyes.
“It was clear winning the match meant so much more to the Hamilton players.
“All credit to them but we were second best, simple. I cannot understand that.
“It was totally opposite to how we prepared and how we spoke.
“Whenever there has been an opportunity to put Kilmarnock under a little bit of pressure, we have fallen short and fallen flat.
“It is simply not good enough.”
Paatelainen sympathised with the demonstrating fans, adding: “I understand it, absolutely.
“We deserve all that (because) we were so poor.
“It has been a long season and they have been long suffering.
“It has been long suffering for the players as well.
“I cannot understand why or how so many simply do not respond in the manner we need.
“In the first half I did not see any fight, I did not see any determination to make things happen.
“We did not get close to opponents and get the upper hand.
“Instead, we were chasing shadows.”
The Finn’s own position is likely to come under threat because of the team’s predicament.
However, he stressed that he wants to stay in the job and try to revive United’s fortunes.
He said: “I want to build a new team much, much stronger than that.
“The squad is simply not strong enough.
“There are other aspects as well.
“I am determined to work hard and make things better but at the moment the situation is very negative and I don’t think we should say too much, the disappointment is so vast.”
As for the looming derby, Paatelainen warned that United will be put to the sword by the Dundee strikers unless they get their act together.
“It is a derby match and anything can happen but if we perform like that then we will not get anywhere near Dundee, their strikers will cause loads of damage.”
