MARTIN MOONEY couldn't even bring himself to enjoy a family BBQ on Saturday night after a depleted Sauchie Juniors made it three games without a win.

The Reds ended a week of Premier Division disappointment as they lost 2-1 to East Lothian side Musselburgh Athletic just days after a 4-1 defeat at Linlithgow Rose.

Mooney's Wee County outfit took to the Olivebank Stadium field missing a host of key names as the Dumbarton legend had to make do without the likes of Connor Langton, Stewart Houston, and Craig Donaldson before losing Kris Faulds in the warm-up.

And the day went from bad to worse for the skeleton Sauchie when midfielder Ant McTaggart was forced off at half time after picking up an injury of his own.

Mooney told Advertiser Sport: "The players know the first half performance was unacceptable and it was the most disappointing I have seem from us.

"We had no structure and were playing loose passes so I changed the shape and that did make a difference.

"But the game had already been lost in the first half and they could have scored three or four as we chased the game in the second.

"Boys were just not doing their jobs and it could maybe be down to a lack of confidence.

"I can't quite put my finger on it but I am looking forward to having a few weeks to spend some time with the players and put things right."

After going in at the break two down, David McCaughie halved the deficit against Kevin McDonald's Burgh but the Reds couldn't find an equaliser.

Sauchie now enjoy a mini break before returning to action away to Gretna 2008 in the Football Nation Qualifying Cup on Saturday, August 17.

Mooney continued: "It's going to be a tough week.

"It will be important to get the boys back from injury and, hopefully, that will give me some decisions to make as I haven't had that opportunity yet with the lack of personnel.

"I learned more from the three games than I did in pre-season and know we were better than what we showed."