Dundee United skipper Willo Flood has apologised to the 971 fans of the club who travelled through to Paisley on Saturday.
The supporters arrived at St Mirren’s ground in confident frame of mind with the Tangerines sitting top of the Championship table with a perfect record from their first three games.
However, in an afternoon to forget for Ray McKinnon’s team, United were beaten 3-0 by the Buddies and slipped off the top of the table back into fourth place.
Flood admitted the performance was simply not acceptable and the players need to up their work-rate if they hope to make this season a promotion-winning one.
The Irishman said: “The fans went through a hard time last year when we never did the business.
“More than anyone, you want them to be going home happy so we have to apologise because that was an embarrassment.
“We have a long, hard season ahead but there are people in that changing-room who know what the Championship is all about now especially away from home.
“Our home form was good last year but I think our away form let us down massively so we need to rectify that early doors.
“I just think we need to work a lot harder, especially off the ball.”
A grim-faced McKinnon insisted that his players will bounce back strongly from the setback.
He said: “That was very disappointing and I didn’t see that performance coming.
“It was very unexpected and it was a hard one to take, definitely.
“I have to give credit to St Mirren. They looked a lot hungrier, they were up for every ball and looked a lot more energetic than we did.
“It is early in the season and we will come back stronger from this.”
