Dundee United’s survival hopes suffered a crushing blow, with the 1-0 defeat to Partick Thistle leaving Mixu Paatelainen “spitting bullets”.
The Tangerines, who passed up enough chances at Firhill to “win two or three games” according to the Finn, remain five points behind Kilmarnock with the joker of their game in hand now played.
Paatelainen said: “What’s the point creating those chances if you don’t score?”
“Of course you are angry after the game but I’m disappointed also, because it was an unbelievable shift again.
“There was a lot of real danger in our play, hence we created so many chances.
“But putting the ball in the back of the net is what it’s all about. We should have won two or three matches.
“Of course you look at positives and negatives. When you lose a match you are spitting bullets.
“But although we got beaten today all is not lost. We still have a chance. That was a great opportunity missed though.
“I’ve said all along that Kilmarnock will win because they’ve got quality in their side. It’s so disappointing that we didn’t capitalise on an opportunity like tonight. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
He added: “You always feel a sucker punch is coming when you miss those chances but you hope you keep creating more. I felt our passing and composure in the first half was there but in the second half we were too hasty eyes closed, smashing the ball forward.
“We had no composure. We can only blame ourselves because we were in total command.”
Kris Doolan scored the winning goal and Thistle manager Alan Archibald admitted that his team got away with a poor first half display.
He said: “It was total turn-around. In the first half we were nowhere near it. Dundee United won every second ball, but credit to my players for their performance in the second half.”