Montrose boss Paul Hegarty was left counting the cost of Tuesday night’s shock Scottish Cup exit to non-league Lothian Thistle with three key players all suffering knee injuries during the game.
The Gable Endies crashed out of the competition, losing 2-1 after extra-time at Links Park.
Hegarty was naturally disappointed with the result but his squad is also now down to the bare bones ahead of Saturday’s league game against Clyde.
The manager said: “A bad night was made worse as we have lost three prominent players to injury.
“Terry Masson, Andrew Steeves and Ross McCord have suffered knee injuries and while it is still too early to say just how bad they are, the physio has already confirmed they will all miss Saturday’s game at Clyde.
“It is a hammer blow for us as we were already set to be without Matty Allan, Paul Watson, Jordan Millar and Adam McWilliam.
“So that is seven players out and the squad is down to just 15.
“I have been on the phone all day trying to arrange emergency loans but obviously time is running out before the weekend.”
Hegarty had been hoping his players would seize their second chance in Tuesday night’s replay, especially after Saturday’s impressive victory over Berwick in the league that took them up to second in the table.
Instead though, he looked on in horror as his side went “from the sublime to the ridiculous”.
He said: “The sad thing is we had got out of jail in the first game but failed miserably to take our second chance on Tuesday night.
“The players knew what to expect and we had highlighted Lothian Thistle’s strengths and weaknesses but they didn’t heed the warning.
“They were the better team and thoroughly deserved to go through.
“We just didn’t show the right character and attitude.
“The defeat was even more disappointing after our great 4-1 win on Saturday over Berwick Rangers.
“It was the same team that then performed so badly in the cup we really went from the sublime to the ridiculous.”