The post-match message from frustrated goalkeeper Remi Matthews was to the point: “You cannot concede a goal as easy as that.”
St Johnstone’s man between the posts was reflecting back on Aberdeen’s second half opener on Saturday which stemmed from a goal-kick up the other end.
A simple long ball over the top evaded the Perth defence and allowed Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes to capitalise.
The Dons attacker would add another shortly after as Saints slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat.
“I’m starting to get frustrated now because I feel like I keep saying the same stuff over and over again,” Matthews told the PA at full-time. “We are giving away too many easy goals and that is killing us.
“The long ball comes over the top. It’s a basic thing for a defender.
“But we’re not going to start pointing fingers at anyone because we’re a team, need to dust ourselves down, stick together and dig something out of the bag.”
The second goal - a header from a corner - was another source of frustration for Matthews who, himself, made a number of crucial first half stops to keep the score level.
He said: “I think we limited them to less chances in the second half and it could’ve gone either way.
“They got the first goal and then we are chasing our tail.
“But for the second goal, you can’t have potentially the smallest player on the pitch win the header. .
“We need to cut the individual errors and easy goals out. Ideally, that will put us in good stead to get points.”
Matthews added: “You make a few saves and ideally we can nick it, then you are buzzing.
“But when you go and lose 2-0 it means absolutely nothing.
“My job is to obviously try and help the team as much as I can. I feel I did that in the first half.
“But the problem is it comes down to the final result. We lose 2-0 and nobody really cares about the saves you make.
“It is frustrating but we cannot keep dwelling on what has happened. We need to figure something out and try get points on the board.”
Saints remain seventh in the Scottish Premiership and are determined to reverse their recent run of form.
“We had a good start to the season,” Matthews said. “Is this now our blip?
“If it is, we need to come out the other end sooner rather than later. We’ve had Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen who are up there with the top teams in the league.
“Now it’s Livi - always a tough game - then Rangers back-to-back. But we need to show a bit more fight and unity to come together in the hard times.
“The biggest thing for me is sticking together - fans, players and manager. It will turn.
“Aberdeen had a tough time recently but they dug this result out and there are a few other teams struggling.”
Matthews confirmed the plan remains for him to stay at Saints for the full season following news that Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland has joined Manchester United on loan.
Matthews said: “I’m here for the season. I’m enjoying my football. And I want to help St Johnstone get as high up the table as possible.”
