Frustrated Motherwell gaffer Graham Alexander has warned his stuttering Steelmen they are in danger of throwing away all this season’s hard work.
The Fir Park side were flying high in fourth as recently as four weeks ago.
But they’ve now slid out of the top six after Joseph Hungbo’s spot-kick winner consigned them to nine games without a win.
Alexander - back on the touchline after serving a two-game ban for slamming referee Andrew Dallas - was forced to bite his tongue after John Beaton’s debatable penalty call handed Ross County their first set of back-to-back wins this season.
But he held little back as he warned his side they risk missing out on a place in the top half of the table with four games to go before the split.
Alexander said: “There was a lack of composure but that happens at times because the players are desperate to win.
“We have to find the answers because we’ve had a really strong season up until this period but it’s in danger of petering out.
"We have to bounce back against Dundee and prove we’re up for the fight because if we don’t then we’ll let a promising campaign drift away.”
Motherwell defender Jake Carroll was penalised for the spot-kick after tugging back Kayne Ramsay 15 minutes in but Alexander insisted Beaton called it wrong awarding the spot-kick.
He said: “The foul for the penalty was outside the box but it was cheap, they get the penalty and the lead and the game became a bit of a slog after that.”
County clung on to record a precious win which moves them 10 points clear of the relegation spots.
Malky Mackay’ s men were favourites for the drop but now sit just two points from a place in the top half.
And the Dingwall boss reckons the top six is feasible, saying: "Yes is the short answer but it is for about five clubs at the moment.
"We'll keep our heads down, take on the next team in front of us and see where we go in the final four games before the split.
"But the first job of the club is to stay in the division."
