Wednesday 27 April 2016 08:11, UK
Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen says he understands why supporters were protesting outside the club's stadium at Tannadice.
A large group of what was left of the team's support, after many fans left at half-time of their 3-1 defeat to Hamilton Academical, gathered outside the main entrance to chant their frustration at full-time.
The result left United eight points adrift of safety with four games left, meaning catching second-bottom Kilmarnock for a relegation play-off is their only chance of staying in the top-flight.
And United will be relegated by their bitter rivals Dundee at Dens Park on May 2 if Kilmarnock beat Hamilton next Saturday.
Paatelainen said: "Our fate is very, very close to being done and dusted, absolutely. Mathematically it's still possible but we are not stupid.
"Our supporters are out there in numbers protesting, not happy with the situation and I totally understand that, totally agree with that, and totally accept that. We deserve all that because it was so poor.
"It's been a long season; long-suffering for the supporters and for the players as well.
"I cannot understand why and how so many simply players don't respond in the manner that we need to. In the first half I didn't see any fight, any real determination to make things happen.
"The way the match started, I could not believe my eyes. Winning this match meant so much more to Hamilton.
"Whenever there has been an opportunity to put Kilmarnock under a little bit under pressure, we have fallen short and we have fallen flat.
"If we perform like that, we won't get anywhere near Dundee and their strikers will cause loads of damage."
