Ross County forward Alex Schalk believes the Staggies players let chairman Roy MacGregor down in Tuesday’s humiliating Betfred Cup defeat by Alloa Athletic.
County’s 3-2 loss at Recreation Park ended their defence of the competition they won last season at the first hurdle, with one match of the newly-introduced group stage still to play.
The Staggies’ shock defeat by the League 1 Wasps came just over four months after they secured their first major silverware with a 2-1 win against Hibernian at Hampden Park, in which Schalk netted the winning goal.
Those memories seem distant for the Dutchman, however, and he says the squad owes chairman MacGregor for the disappointment due to his continued backing for the Dingwall club.
Former NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles attacker Schalk said: “It’s one of the biggest embarrassments of my career so far – that’s maybe the best way to describe this.
“It hurts as we’re the holders of the cup and we wanted to defend that as best we could.
“To go out like this is a major disappointment. It’s a huge embarrassment for me and the rest of the players and staff. We let everyone down, especially the chairman.
“After going 2-0 down but then scoring two goals in the first-half we thought we were going to go on and win as it was in our favour. That’s what we thought in the dressing-room at half-time.
“We’re wondering ourselves how it happened. We’re blaming ourselves, because obviously we need to take it on the chin.”
County must pick themselves up to play their final group fixture of the Betfred Cup against Highland League champions Cove Rangers at Victoria Park on Saturday, with merely pride at stake.
Schalk says his sights are already set on the start of the league campaign against Dundee the following weekend, insisting the Staggies must show a strong response to redeem themselves.
The 23-year-old added: “We have to learn from this and be even more prepared for the start of the season.
“We have to show a reaction – a big reaction. We need to be prepared for the week after. We need to show that we’re Ross County, and we don’t get beaten by teams like this, with all respect for Alloa.
“We just have to bounce back from this and go in the league and show we’re a good side, and capable of playing the ball the way we used to do last season.”
