Forfar boss Dick Campbell admits he cannot believe his side could conceivably finish the league campaign with 69 points and still not win automatic promotion.
The Loons’ title destiny was taken out of their own hands when they slumped to defeat at Peterhead last Saturday with the veteran boss saying afterwards that the result had left him “shattered”.
As Forfar were losing, their two main promotion rivals Stranraer and Morton were winning with the former now in pole position to go up, sitting one point ahead of Campbell’s men.
If Stranraer win their remaining two matches against Morton and then Brechin, Forfar would have to be content with a play-off place.
However, the Station Park gaffer is simply determined to focus on what his side can do in their last two games against Dunfermline this afternoon and then Ayr at home next week.
He said: “I really didn’t see last week’s result coming.
“We were murder and never raised a gallop. I don’t think we strung three passes together the whole game.
“To be honest, it is a game that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
“The title is now out of our hands which is the annoying thing.
“We will just have to pick ourselves up and try to win the next two games, starting at Dunfermline.
“However, we know it might not be enough although it is astonishing that we could finish with 69 points and still not go up automatically.
“The good thing is Stranraer play Morton this weekend.
“We will concentrate on ourselves, be totally focused and then see what’s happened in that game.
“We will be without Ian Campbell though as his loan has now ended.
“It is disappointing that we cannot extend it but those are the rules and he has done really well for us.
“I think we have won nine out of the 12 games he has played in.
“However, Mark Baxter is fit and will come back in.”