Shell-shocked Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell admitted he could’ve substituted his whole team at half-time, after a horror show against Albion Rovers.
Joe Bevan’s first-half double and superb strikes from Charlie Reilly and ex-Son Callum Wilson had the Wee Rovers cruising at the break.
And Sons gaffer Farrell, who made a triple substitution at the break, said he could have hooked any of his 10 outfield players.
The boss said: “We got everything we deserved. We spoke about how we would have to win 10 individual battles and we lost all 10 of them. All over the pitch.
“Not one player won their battle. When you lose two or three then you’re in for a hard day. When you lose 10 then you’ve got no chance.
“We were outbattled, outfought and outthought. Every single time they went up the pitch they looked like scoring.
“You can blame a number of factors. But sometimes it comes down to individual desire. And we didn’t show enough of that.
“If I could’ve I would’ve subbed 10 players, that’s how bad we were. The performance was our worst of the season.
“That was worse than the 6-0 defeat to Stirling Albion in October.”
Farrell refused to lay the blame solely with his players however, as they face a vital top of the table clash with Stirling Albion at Forthbank on Saturday.
The boss continued: “I’m not going to stand and throw the players under the bus. They have been excellent for me.
“The most important thing for us is not to overanalyse it.
“It’s so far from the side which was magnificent against Stranraer and Stenhousemuir in our previous two games. That’s the team I know I’ve got in there.
“We need to forget the game.
“The message to the players is simple. We’re a point ahead in the third week of March. Don’t give it up.
“I’ve got to lift them again. It’s not something I’ve had to do often this season.
“Nothing changes in how we approach the Stirling game. No two games of football are the same.
“We’ll be prepared for the Stirling game when it comes. If we win will we win the league? No. If Stirling win will they win the league? No.
“The reality is that there are a few twists and turns to come in this title race.
“There’s a quarter of the season still to go, and we need to get as many points as we can in that period.”
Farrell will welcome skipper Gregor Buchanan back from illness for the trip to Stirling, and hopes Declan Byrne will be able to return from a knock too.
However the game is likely to come too soon for David Wilson and Ryan Wallace, who are expected to face at least another few weeks on the sidelines.
