Dundee United midfielder John Rankin accepts the players are the ones to blame for the Hamilton horror show but wants to move on now.
Tannadice manager Jackie McNamara has come in for some stick in the wake of his team’s 4-0 drubbing at New Douglas Park last Saturday, with many disgruntled fans looking for him to leave.
However, Rankin says it was the people on the park, not in the dugout, who were responsible for the shock scoreline.
He now feels it is up to them to make amends when they host champions Celtic at Tannadice today.
“We players are the first ones to hold our hands up,” said Rankin.
“It wasn’t good enough last week but we can’t dwell on it.
“If you continue to go over things in the past then you are never going to progress.
“Last week is done and dusted.
“It was a bad defeat but it is gone now.
“We are only four games in and people are making him (the manager) the scapegoat.
“There is nothing we can do but go out and put on good performances on the park.
“The thing that disappointed us last week was not only the result but the performance.
“But to point the finger at the manager is not right.
“You have to look at the players and we have to take responsibility because we weren’t good enough on the day.”
A match against the Hoops is perhaps the last game you would want after such a beating from Hamilton.
However, Rankin disagreed, saying: “There is no better way to bounce back than to play the champions at home.
“There is no pressure on us, it is all on Celtic, who are expected to win.
“It is a massive game and they don’t come any bigger than this.
“Last season we gave a good account of ourselves in two or three occasions at Tannadice.
“We are looking to do the same this time and the entire dressing room is buzzing for this game because we think we can get three points.
“We don’t know what Celtic team we will come up against but whoever is playing we know how hard it will be.
“Look at their bench on Wednesday for the Malmo game – they had Kris Commons, Nadir Ciftci and Gary Mackay-Steven on there.
“Scott Allan wasn’t even in the squad.
“So no matter what team they put out we know it will be tough.
“They have a massive Champions League tie and, to be honest, everyone in Scotland I know wants them to go through.
“It is good for the co-efficient and keeps our ranking up.”
Rankin brings experience to a young United team and he realises that with youth comes inconsistency.
He said: “We all strive for consistency.
“Every team in the league is striving for it.
“Aberdeen were consistent last season and that is why they were second.
“So far this season they have done the same, as have Hearts, so we are looking to bring the same consistency to our game.
“With young boys there are ups and downs but we have all been there. You learn from the mistakes.”