The suggestion that the better team lost is frankly ridiculous.
Yes, the winning margin flatters Celje enormously and Norwegian champions Molde should comfortably have their measure.
But Dundalk have no right to progress in the Champions League defending like that, no matter how much of the ball they had in their pursuit of an equaliser.
The defeat shines an even bigger spotlight on the misfiring League of Ireland champions and where they go now - on and off the pitch.
Vinny Perth, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is under mounting pressure and 14 of the squad also see their deals expire at the same time.
It needs fixing but something is not right at the club, a fact that Perth alluded to in the build up when he spoke in cryptic terms about “worries” within the Oriel set-up.
But the crisis of confidence that we have seen in Dundalk’s league performances was seeping through the pores here too.
Sure, the performance was much better and Dundalk deserved to equalise at least because they threw everything at Celje after the break.
But good teams find a way to convert those chances and for a team that was once adept at scoring on their European travels under Stephen Kenny, they have yet to do so under Perth.
It wasn’t for the lack of trying. Michael Duffy had numerous chances. Darragh Leahy weighed in late on with a couple and Pat Hoban hit the post.
But Dundalk had no killer instinct and no matter how you might dress this up, they blew it - and they know it.
Fingers will be pointed at some of the new arrivals this season and questions asked if they are good enough.
But it is some of the club’s experienced heads who have bigger questions to answer.
All three goals here came from horrendous blunders and those defensive lapses have been a worrying, recurring theme since the league resumed.
As the goals flew in, you felt for Brian Gartland, Gary Rogers and Sean Hoare who all looked like they wanted the ground to open up and swallow them.
But mistakes like that are inexcusable at this level and that is why first-time Slovenian champions Celje deserved to knock out their seeded opponents.
Dundalk’s didn’t even get the chance to allow the Champions League music give them a lift because the PA man played Hungarian ska music instead as the teams lined up.
Perth had big calls to make, particularly in defence where Dundalk have been ropey of late.
Gartland got the nod at centre-back while Leahy edged out Dane Massey at left-back despite his lack of game time. Jordan Flores returned in midfield.
Celje targeted Dundalk’s restarts and pushed men forward to close down space and that forcedRogers to pump the ball long.
Dario Vizinger went close on 15 minutes but Dundalk soon found their stride. Gartland powered a header inches over the crossbar.
Little did they know about the mayhem about to unfold just before the break, but the Lilywhites were closing out the half with purpose until then.
Michael Duffy nipped in between two defenders and Rozman had to save smartly while a later Duffy shot was deflected at the last moment.
But Celje’s goal three minutes before half-time was a killer.
Gartland initially appeared well placed to shield Kerin from reaching Mitja Lotric’s pass.
But with Rogers rushing off his line, Gartland wasn’t expecting Kerin to get a touch as he fell to the turf and the ball dribbled over Rogers foot and into the net.
The look exchanged between Rogers and Gartland said it all, but Dundalk’s response thereafter offered hope.
Flores fired a vicious shot over and Duffy then flashed across the face of goal. Leahy did likewise soon after as the chances continued to mount.
With six minutes to go Hoban crashed a header off the post but it was a false sense of hope as Dundalk unravelled in the closing stages.
Dario Vizinger capitalised on a stray Hoare ball and the Dundalk centre-back was helpless in a two-on-one situation and the Celje striker scored.
And it was salt in the wounds in injury-time when sub Filip Dangubic stabbed home after Rogers twice kept out shots but couldn’t mop up when it mattered.
On and off the pitch, Dundalk’s troubles were laid bare here in Budapest.
