Saints loss our biggest wake-up call

MARK O’Hara says Saturday’s home horror show against St Johnstone is the “biggest wake-up call you can get” as Dundee steel themselves for a relegation battle.

The 4-0 scoreline at Dens Park was kind on the Dark Blues’ performance and leaves them in 10th spot, just three points ahead of Partick, who sit in the relegation play-off place.

And O’Hara knows a reaction is needed to kickstart what is certainly a survival bid, starting on Saturday at Aberdeen, a trip Dundee haven’t enjoyed too much of late.

He said: “It’s make or break now for us. Obviously, it’s not too late but the St Johnstone game is the biggest wake-up call you can get.

“We can’t play like that again, simple as that.

“The next game at Aberdeen, a reaction needs to happen and we need points desperately. We can’t dwell on last week, we’ve got to get the spirits lifted and put in the hard work.

“We need to find a change of form. This weekend, people won’t give us much of a chance at Aberdeen but we see it as a chance to get a good three points.

“We’ve been up there this season, played well but lost 2-1 and should have taken something from the game.

“I think we’ll take encouragement from that and we need to erase Saturday as quickly as possible — we all need to move forward.”

The 22-year-old midfielder says he was “numb” with disbelief after the Tayside derby at how desperately poor the performance was.

Saints took full advantage of Dundee’s troubles with an own goal from Dee debutant Jordan Piggott added to by Chris Kane for a 2-0 half-time lead.

Then Blair Alston and Kane again sealed a massive win for St Johnstone on an entirely-forgettable day for the Dark Blues.

O’Hara added: “I felt numb after the game. It was really disappointing.

“We had a good couple of weeks’ training and felt really confident going into the game but it was pretty surreal the outcome and result.