The growing tally of deadly lost goals has cost us several places in the densely packed lower reaches of the league table.
Since the start of 2016 we have conceded in the dying minutes on five occasions. We paid a bitter price every time.
We turned a Ne'rday 3-2 win against Hamilton into a 3-3 draw when Crawford scored a penalty after 90 minutes.
Hemmings was given a penalty in 88 minutes and our 2-1 away lead over Dundee was reduced to a 2-2 share.
A point at Firhill disappeared when Lawless gave Thistle a 1-0 win on 90 minutes.
A likely replay with Inverness in the Scottish Cup evaporated when a shot from Roberts lost the game 2-1. 90 minutes on the clock.
Another away point was lost when Scobbie's 90th minute header gave St Johnstone a 2-1 victory.
Whether those goals were lost following poor refereeing decisions or by poor play hardly matters, the outcome remains. Valuable points were lost and our cup hopes are abandoned for another season.
In truth St Johnstone should have had the game won before that last gasp header as they had missed a couple of glaring chances in the previous ten minutes. That will do nothing to console the players nor the 459 fans in the away stand.
McGhee elected to highlight what he felt were poor decisions by Ripley and Hall as the stadium clock clicked on to 89 minutes. His conclusion was that young players will learn from their mistakes.
The best way to avoid the disastrous loss of a goal with the last kick of the ball is to be a couple of goals ahead by the time the fourth official reveals the added minutes. It is a team responsibility.
Let's hope that the precaution of withdrawing McDonald before Saturday's kick off ensures that he is able to assist in giving us a cushion as we enter the final minutes of next week's match with Partick Thistle.