Dundee United have to go back to Hampden in May to find their last competitive victory, following this home hammering from the Highlanders.
The Scottish Cup winners were a shadow of their former selves on Sunday as SPL newcomers Inverness Caley Thistle outplayed them on their own pitch.
This hangover from Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to AEK Athens has left manager Peter Houston with a thumping headache going into this week’s return trip to Greece.
With a repeat of this fare, they won’t be at the races in the Olympic Stadium.
The stray passing that peppered their play against the Greeks was all too evident again, while the need for another central defender is urgent.
As accomplished as they were on the day, ICT are no AEK.
The goals came from Kevin McCann (34 minutes), an Adam Rooney double (51 and 82), and Russell Duncan (54).
It was absolute murder for the United fans in the crowd of 6575, who would have been better off staying at home and watching an old Columbo film on TV.
Boss Houston couldn’t solve the mystery and now faces the daunting task of lifting his players for their continental challenge.
“That was the poorest I have seen,” said Houston.
“That was worse than even the (7-1) defeat against Rangers last season.
“It just proved that we can’t rest on our laurels because last season is well over and done with.
“For the fans who gave us all great credit and applause, any more performances like that and they will quickly change.Booing”And I can understand the fans booing at the end today.
“I will accept that and look at myself in the mirror.
“What we have to do as a group is look at it and find out why Inverness were sharper, quicker and hungrier than us.
“All credit to them, and they played well, but I could have made 10 substitutions today and that’s the disappointing thing for me.”
He added, “We didn’t play particularly well against Athens but we worked our socks off.
“And apart from Danny Swanson and Andy Webster that is the team that did the business last season.
“We have to ask ourselves questions and very quickly because we have a couple of really tough games coming up against Athens and Hearts.’Not good enough'”One out of six points and losing 4-0 at home isn’t good enough.
“I thought they (Inverness) scored against the run of play, that’s my opinion, but once the first goal went in they started being more confident.
“In the second half we were trying to get back into it, but we were soon 3-0 down and the game was finished.
“Tactically, I tried to go with three strikers.
“We tired in the middle of the park and just didn’t do our jobs and, when I look at the whole of the defence, it was poor.
“Kenza (Garry Kenneth) lets the guy turn and run into the box for the penalty.
“We have arguably as good a midfield three as there is in Scotland in Prince Buaben, Morgaro Gomis and Scott Robertson, but they were second to everything.
“I then look at Jon Daly and David Goodwillie, who have had a lot of praise, and they don’t look like they have played together.
“I don’t want to see a performance like that again.”
Houston stuck by the same players who started on Thursday night. That meant Sean Dillon stayed at centre back, with Darren Dods again taking a seat on the bench.
The formation was more attacking, with Goodwillie pushed up alongside skipper Daly.
The Highlanders posed the first serious threat of the game on seven minutes when, capitalising on a stray pass from Keith Watson, Rooney collected the ball just outside the box then fired a drive just wide.
A sweeping move from United, involving half a dozen players, ended with Goodwillie shooting over from a tight angle.
A Jonny Hayes free-kick from the left had the home side worried as 20 minutes ticked by, but Rooney just couldn’t reach it.
Craig Conway found Daly with a corner but the Irishman couldn’t convert, while United keeper Dusan Pernis saved well on the ground after Rooney turned Kenneth in the box before shooting.
A period of ICT pressure first saw Duncan’s shot blocked then Tannadice full-back Paul Dixon clear up and over his own bar.OpenerThe visitors were on top and it wasn’t too much of a shock when they took the lead on 34 minutes, thanks to a peach of a goal.
When the ball arrived at the feet of McCann 35 yards out, he let fly, and the ball sailed past Pernis into the top right hand corner of the net.
United were desperate to hit back before half-time and they came close when Conway’s corner looked to be going in until Rooney nodded off the line.
ICT were looking just as lively after the interval and a fine move on 49 minutes ended with Hayes sweeping his shot past the far post.
They were only denied by a couple of minutes, with former United man Eric Odhiambo squaring to Rooney at the edge of the area and the striker driving a low shot past Pernis to make it 2-0.
The roof caved in on the Tangerines on 54 minutes when Inverness scored a third… and it was another cracker.
McCann took a throw-in on the right and it sat up for Duncan, who unleashed a fabulous volley that whizzed into the United net from the corner of the box.PerformanceIt was great stuff from the visitors and the performance even had their fans singing, “We’re going to win the league.”
Could it get any worse for United?
Yes it could, was the answer, as with eight minutes to go, Kenneth hauled Rooney down inside the box and up stepped the striker himself to make it a fantastic four for Inverness.
The best effort from the home side was too little, too late, with Buaben striking the post with a shot three minutes from time.
United supporters were leaving early and they earned a “sorry” from chairman Stephen Thompson.
“I want to issue a full apology to the fans for that performance,” he said.
“A result like that is never acceptable in any circumstances from a Dundee United team.”
ICT boss Terry Butcher said, “I am wondering if there is enough red wine in Dundee for me after that result. It was a sensational performance wow!”
Houston stuck by the same players who started on Thursday night. That meant Sean Dillon stayed at centre back, with Darren Dods again taking a seat on the bench.
The formation was more attacking, with Goodwillie pushed up alongside skipper Daly.
The Highlanders posed the first serious threat of the game on seven minutes when, capitalising on a stray pass from Keith Watson, Rooney collected the ball just outside the box then fired a drive just wide.
A sweeping move from United, involving half a dozen players, ended with Goodwillie shooting over from a tight angle.
A Jonny Hayes free-kick from the left had the home side worried as 20 minutes ticked by, but Rooney just couldn’t reach it.
Craig Conway found Daly with a corner but the Irishman couldn’t convert, while United keeper Dusan Pernis saved well on the ground after Rooney turned Kenneth in the box before shooting.
A period of ICT pressure first saw Duncan’s shot blocked then Tannadice full-back Paul Dixon clear up and over his own bar.OpenerThe visitors were on top and it wasn’t too much of a shock when they took the lead on 34 minutes, thanks to a peach of a goal.
When the ball arrived at the feet of McCann 35 yards out, he let fly, and the ball sailed past Pernis into the top right hand corner of the net.
United were desperate to hit back before half-time and they came close when Conway’s corner looked to be going in until Rooney nodded off the line.
ICT were looking just as lively after the interval and a fine move on 49 minutes ended with Hayes sweeping his shot past the far post.
They were only denied by a couple of minutes, with former United man Eric Odhiambo squaring to Rooney at the edge of the area and the striker driving a low shot past Pernis to make it 2-0.
The roof caved in on the Tangerines on 54 minutes when Inverness scored a third… and it was another cracker.
McCann took a throw-in on the right and it sat up for Duncan, who unleashed a fabulous volley that whizzed into the United net from the corner of the box.PerformanceIt was great stuff from the visitors and the performance even had their fans singing, “We’re going to win the league.”
Could it get any worse for United?
Yes it could, was the answer, as with eight minutes to go, Kenneth hauled Rooney down inside the box and up stepped the striker himself to make it a fantastic four for Inverness.
The best effort from the home side was too little, too late, with Buaben striking the post with a shot three minutes from time.
United supporters were leaving early and they earned a “sorry” from chairman Stephen Thompson.
“I want to issue a full apology to the fans for that performance,” he said.
“A result like that is never acceptable in any circumstances from a Dundee United team.”
ICT boss Terry Butcher said, “I am wondering if there is enough red wine in Dundee for me after that result. It was a sensational performance wow!”