Stevie Farrell admitted his Sons side could’ve shipped 10 goals in a nightmare first-half against Annan Athletic.
Goalkeeper Brett Long performed heroics to keep the half-time scoreline to 3-0, pulling off a string of superb stops - including three from one-on-one situations.
An improved second-half showing saw David Wilson’s superb free-kick pull a goal back for the faltering Sons, who are now winless in five.
And boss Farrell pulled no punches after another below par performance.
He said: “The game should’ve probably finished 10-3. We’ve had two chances in the first-half that we should score, but they’ve had six or seven in the first-half alone.
“In the second-half our shape was better when we made the substitutions. But it’s easy at that point. The game is done.
“3-1 flattered us after the first-half.
“At half-time we said that we had Brett to thank for keeping us in it.
“We had to change the shape because of the personnel we had available to us. And every time we’ve had to change the shape with this group of players we’ve been poor.
“We’ve spoken about the difference in where we’ve been and where we are now.
“You don’t keep 13 clean sheets in a season without being a good defensive unit. But we need to get back to that now.”
Farrell has now challenged his side to rediscover their winning form - and push for promotion back to League One at the first time of asking, starting with tonight (Tuesday’s) visit of table topping Stirling Albion.
He continued: “We have a hell of a chance of promotion. I defy anyone to say otherwise. But the penny has got to drop with the players after Saturday.
“The players should be fired up for Tuesday to prove a point.
“We saw the difference between the sides on Saturday. Stirling have picked up a point whilst we’ve not got anything.
“I won’t blame injuries. They have played a part, but they played no part in our first-half performance at Annan. Everyone was fit and strong on the pitch.
“Ultimately the players now need to stand up and find a way to change the way they are playing just now.
“Promotion, by hook or by crook, is our objective.
“If we play like we have done for the majority of the season we have a hell of a chance.
“If we play like we have done recently then we’ll give ourselves no chance.”
Farrell saw Declan Byrne, David Wilson and Kalvin Orsi all make a welcome return to action from the bench at Galabank, and hopes to add midfielder Joe McKee to his squad for Tuesday.
