Zander Diamond fears supporter anger is beginning to have an adverse effect on Aberdeen’s performances.
The criticism continues to come the Dons’ way as defensive errors are repeated and the 2-2 draw at Hibernian at the weekend is another setback.
Leading 2-0, Jimmy Calderwood’s men squandered their advantage at Easter Road and were eventually pegged back in injury time.
The result completed another inconsistent week for the Pittodrie club of a loss, a win and a draw.
Defender Diamond insists the frustration of supporters is proving more difficult to ignore with each game.
He said: “It has been a difficult week. We messed up in the first half at Tannadice and couldn’t complete the comeback in the second half, despite playing much better.
“Tuesday night was difficult against St Mirren at home as the supporters got more restless as the game wore on – just as the Hibs supporters did here.
“As a player you hear all the grumps and moans when things are not going to plan and it is hard to block it out at times. We’re all strong characters and have to take it on the chin but some of it can be volatile at times. They get to shout whatever they want but we don’t get to shout back at them.”
The manner in which the Dons collapsed at Easter Road left Calderwood seething and Diamond agrees that the Dons should have held out for all three points.
He said: “The manager is not happy and neither are any of the players. It feels like a defeat as we were in front at half-time and managed to get the second goal.
“You have to roll up your sleeves and do the dirty work but we lost a goal and then didn’t finish it off when Sone Aluko went through on the goalkeeper. Once Sone had got goal side of Andy O’Brien I thought it was going to be 3-1 but once he was clipped he was too honest and tried to stay on his feet to get his shot away. To then concede an equaliser with the last kick of the ball is a sore one to take. We should have held out.”
The one area of consolation for the Dons is the fact that their rivals also struggled at the weekend. The Dons remain five points off third place as Dundee United lost at Kilmarnock to allow Hearts to move above them courtesy of their victory in Inverness.
Diamond added: “This league is as tight as I’ve seen. One result moves you up a couple of places and one defeat drops you down. There’s nothing between third and bottom place.
“It can only be good for the supporters but for the clubs, managers and players, it is not enjoyable.”