SAUCHIE boss Iain Diack bemoaned his side’s bad day at the office as they fell to their first defeat in five games on Saturday.

The Reds never really got going as they lost 2-0 to midtable Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale at Beechwood Park.

The visitor’s scored their two goals thanks to defensive lapses either side of a missed David Cross penalty.

Diack told Advertiser Sport: “We just weren’t at the races on Saturday, which is not something I would say about the boys too often.

“It was just one of those days and we had an off day. We never really played that well throughout the game.

We huffed and puffed at times and missed a few chances, including the penalty at 1-0 down.

“But, it’s just one of those things.”

The defeat came as a bit of a surprise to Diack and Sauchie, who had dominated their last five games and scored 17 goals.

Without knowing why exactly they were so flat on Saturday, Diack issued a firm warning to his players that they couldn’t just turn up and expect to win games.

Diack added: “In my experience in football, you can be playing well and then suddenly get a slap in the face.

“I couldn’t put my finger on it and we haven’t changed anything in terms of training or our approach in the game.

“We just didn’t play well today and we can only move on.

“There were just too many having off days and you can’t carry five or six players who aren’t at the races.

“If we had turned up even just 70 per cent of the way we have played in the last few weeks then I do think we would have won the game.

“We can’t just show up and expect to win games like that.”

Despite the disappointing performance Diack announced some good news as he revealed the injury to Darren Cummings was far less serious than first feared.

The striker was forced off in last weekend’s win over Dunipace with what was thought to be a year ending injury.

Scans have revealed it was only a groin rupture and Cummings should be back within a fortnight.

But, the club’s injuries woes continued on Saturday with former Falkirk youth Conor Langton having to be stretchered off.

Diack added: “The good news is Darren should be back within a couple of weeks and we hope to get him back as quickly as possible.

“However, Conor Langton is another one. He was the one who was looking like he could really unlock them before he was the one who was actually brought down for the penalty.

“Hopefully it’s not too bad, but it was a sore one again and looked like a bad one.”