ANOTHER HAMPDEN LOSS

Shire coach Jim McInally and his players have held a "clear the air" gathering immediately following the 2-0 defeat against Queen's Park at Hampden.

The visiting dressing room remained locked for almost three quarters of an hour following the full-time whistle as the team wnt down to its fifth defeat in six league matches.

The coach admits "harsh words" were exchanged as the players and coaching staff tried to get to the bottom of a mystifying slump in form which has seen Livingston leap ahead at the top of the Third Division.

Jim admits some of the squad are suffering a crisis of confidence

"We are not at the races at the moment," he said. "There were no decent passes, no decent efforts at goal and all-in-all we look a team totally bereft of any confidence.

"The disappointment of slipping away from Livingston has got to the players and there are a lot of heads down at the minute."

The coach praised his team for effort and application against Queen's Park even if he accepted there was a lack of inspiration to win the contest.

"We gave away a cheap goal early in the seconnd half and if we had not done so we would have got a nil-nil draw because although we did not put a lot into the game we never looked like losing it either."

He also warned his players they must improve results soon or they could slip out of the play-off picture altogether.

"There are teams fighting for their lives to get into the play-off and the players should be doing the same because we are by no means secure in them.

"We need to get our finger out and get some points on the board."

Shire's record of never having won a game this season in which the opposition has scored first is a failing which the coach is aware of and says it was part of their undoing against the Spiders.

"We are not very good at chasing games," he said. "We ended up with six forwards on the pitch but we don't make the right runs, we don't play off people. We never looked like getting the goal and we have some who are short of confidence and you can certainly see it in their play."