A second half double from Steven MacLean earned St Johnstone a 2-1 win over Motherwell at McDiarmid Park on Saturday and increased the pressure on manager Ian Baraclough.
While it may be too early to devote serious attention to the league table, there is no denying that our recent form has been dismal. What straws could be clutched previously are now drifting out of reach.
Like against Aberdeen last week, we went in front early. Lionel Ainsworth set up Louis Moult for a simple finish and we were a goal to the good.
Moult missed a good chance to double the lead before St Johnstone, slowly but surely, took control. Only impressive saves from Connor Ripley maintained our advantage at the break.
St Johnstone continued to press and few would have been surprised by MacLean's 63rd minute equalizer. A similar strike 11 minutes from time ensured victory, though Moult almost rescued a point with a header which flew just wide.
By that point Jake Taylor had been dismissed for a dive in the box.
We had named the same team as last week which, if successful, would have attracted praise. In failure it raises serious questions over Baraclough's ability to see the flaws which are, sadly, so blatant in our play. And what is the point of having a squad if they do not get a chance after three limited defeats?
We now turn to East Fife in the League Cup this mid-week before we welcome Kilmarnock on Saturday. It is incredible that we have two must win games to keep the manager in place before August is out but that is the very situation we are in.