Ryan McGowan believes every Dundee United player should look in the mirror and so some soul-searching.
The Tangerines are toiling at the bottom of the Premiership and crashed out of the League Cup in midweek after being outplayed by Championship side Hibs.
These are the bleakest times at Tannadice since they were relegated at the end of season 1994-95.
Any momentum the Tangerines hoped to carry into Wednesday night’s quarter-final at Easter Road after beating Ross County in the league on Saturday was blown away by a confident home side, who comfortably clinched a 3-0 victory.
United were a distant second best to the Hibees despite being from a division above them and McGowan hopes that any player who has not yet asked themselves what they can do to improve should do so now, with a trip to Aberdeen looming large this weekend.
Asked if he has been surprised to find himself at a team sitting bottom of the league after having such high hopes when signing for United in January, McGowan replied: “It has been a quick turnaround but I am part of this as well.
“I need to look at myself in the mirror, as does everyone at the club.
“Overall, we didn’t perform at the level we wanted to and we are disappointed about that.
“We just have to concentrate on the league now and if we can get a good result on Saturday it can change things quickly.
“If I knew what it was (that was wrong with the team) then I guess I could be the gaffer and change things around!
“There are no excuses for lack of effort, not being aggressive enough or not trying hard enough.
“I think that’s a given every time you play.
“At the moment we need to find a way to win.
“Last weekend we did that against Ross County, we battled hard in a very difficult game and we need to do that again on Saturday.
“It’s a very frustrating time.
“No one likes to get knocked out of the cup but we now have another big game on Saturday that we will have to lift ourselves for.
“We will go up there with our game plan and try to execute it as the gaffer wants.
“Aberdeen are on a bad run too so if we can keep it tight and stay in game then we will have every chance.”