Callum Davidson said St Johnstone let their supporters down after slipping to a fifth straight defeat.
An abysmal first half had the Perth side - who were on home soil - trailing 3-0 against Livingston and, while there was a slight recovery, the damage had well and truly been done.
Saints remain eighth in the standings following the painful 4-2 defeat, although recent results and performances make this a potentially very slippery slope and especially with tough games on the horizon.
Booing home fans voiced their frustration and Davidson admitted it was “not good enough”.
“The goals we’ve lost in the last three or four games isn’t good enough,” he said.
“Livingston were very clinical but we made it too easy for them to get a shot on goal.
“It was an uphill battle after going two down and then we concede a goal from a corner before half-time when we don’t react quickly enough. They were really poor goals – people not getting picked up.
“In the second half we had a go – there was nothing else we could do.
“We got back in the game but then got done with a one-two. It’s not good enough.”
On the booing, he said: “That’s football. I’ve been there a few times.
“The fans are entitled to show their frustrations. They’re a good crowd when you have a go.
“We’ve got to do better and give them something to cheer about.”
He added: “It’s a tough one to take. We let the supporters down today.
“When you start the game well they get behind us, which they did in the second half when we actually had a go.”
Davidson said there were some firm words in the dressing room at full-time.
“If you want to feel sorry for yourself don’t bother coming to training,” he said. “I’m up for the challenge.
“We’ve gone from a good position to a tough position right until the end of the season.
“I’ve said in the dressing room: ‘if you don’t want to be here and don’t want to fight, don’t bother’.
“We’ll be ready to battle away.”
Saints did show more in the second half, helped by a triple substitution at the break.
Davidson said: “The substitutes gave me something to think about today.”
