Will Nightingale insists Ross County’s squad must take individual responsibility following Saturday’s 3-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Partick Thistle.
The Staggies were brushed aside by Championship opponents Thistle at Victoria Park, with Kris Doolan’s men triumphing through goals from Brian Graham, Scott Robinson and Stuart Bannigan.
County sit 11th in the Premiership table and are without a victory from their last five matches.
Defender Nightingale insists he and his team-mates must look themselves in the mirror following their cup exit.
Nightingale said: “It’s just not good enough and we know that as professionals, as individuals. If we don’t know that we are in the wrong industry.
“First and foremost what you have to do in these situations is look at yourself and think about what you can do better and that’s what I’ll be doing, and what I’ll be questioning.
“That’s the first thing I’ll be turning to, myself, and I think that’s what everybody needs to do.
“It’s not good enough, plain and simple, no matter who it’s against. When you cross that white line you should want to win a game of football.
“We are a lot better than we have shown and people have seen it in glimpses this season.
“That’s been our problem, it has been too inconsistent. Even though there have been highs, there have been far too many lows and it falls on us as players to turn it around.”
Staggies back in Premiership action
County return to Premiership action on Saturday, with the Staggies making the trip to face champions Celtic.
Three days later, Derek Adams’ side are once again on the road when they take on bottom club Livingston – with a six-point gap between the sides at present.
Following their Scottish Cup exit, Nightingale says his side must refocus for their return to league duty.
He added: “I think we need a bit of a reset. Today was so bad and hopefully we can learn from it. Sometimes you learn more from losing than winning and we have to show our character now as individuals.
“Now we are in a bit of adversity and it will show what we are about as characters, as men, because it’s sink and swim time now and we have to come through it.
“There is still a lot of time left between now and the end of the season and we have to use today as a positive and learn from it. Obviously it’s going to hurt, but we can’t replicate that. It was nowhere near good enough.”
Nightingale eager to put stamp on Staggies side
Englishman Nightingale, who is on loan from AFC Wimbledon, earlier this month extended his stay with the Staggies until the end of the season.
Nightingale insists he is determined to avoid a relegation scrap in the latter half of the campaign.
The 28-year-old added: “From a personal point of view, I don’t think I have shown my best up here yet and I want to get myself going. I am keen to show my best so I am going to keep working on myself to be the best I can be.
“I love the club, there are so many good people at this club who are worth fighting for. That’s a strength at Ross County for the past 10 years, a togetherness and wanting to die for the badge and that kind of resembles me as a player. I was keen to stay and I have got to deliver.
“The manager has come in and shown that confidence in me and other players and it’s up to us to repay him.”
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