Defiant Robbie Neilson insists he would have taken this position for Hearts at the start of the season despite slipping to defeat against Queen of the South.
After a humiliating defeat to Brora Rangers in midweek, the message since had been about reacting properly and trying to make amends.
So to fall behind after just 90 seconds was perhaps typical and not surprising to a fan base that is at the end of it's tether with manager and players.
The Championship leaders remain 13 points clear but find themselves in the absurd position of suffering from a crisis of confidence despite that.
“I’m hugely disappointed.," said Neilson. "We spoke about getting a reaction to Tuesday night and after a minute we make an individual error and we’re a goal down. And then we lose another poor goal when we step out and they do us over the top.
“To the players’ credit they fought back to make it 2-2 and then when we’re trying to win the game we lose another goal because of another individual error.
"It’s crazy that we’re talking about the confidence in the group when we’re 13 points clear with five games to go. If you had offered us that at the start of the season we would have bitten your hand off for it.
"But we’ve had a blip. The last five days have been really difficult for everyone. It’s a case of sticking together and making sure we get over the line as there’s still a bit of work to do.
Fans were protesting outside Tynecastle before the game and while the message to stay away was ignored, Neilson gets their anger.
He added: ““We understand their frustration as there’s nobody more frustrated than me after Tuesday and again after today. It’s probably not the time to protest as a mass group and we asked them not to but I totally understand their frustration as I’m the same.”
Armand Gnanduillet thought he'd salvaged a point late on, but his header was disallowed after stand-side linesman Alan Mulvanny adjudged the ball to have been out before Jamie Walker's cross.
Neilson's seen it back and believes the official simply guessed.
He said: “It’s a big call. And I’ve watched it again and the linesman is seven or eight yards away from it. So he’ can’t see it so he’s just guessed. He’s potentially cost us a point. Jamie was adamant it was still in and I’ve seen the video and it was.”
Get all the latest Hearts news sent directly to your inbox by signing up for the Edinburgh Live Hearts newsletter.
