A fortnight ago Shamrock Rovers squandered the opportunity to move within five points of leaders Drogheda United. Since then, the team has unravelled.
It all started with that heavy defeat against Bray, followed by a narrow loss in Cork and compounded when falling to Drogheda at the weekend.
Rovers, having secured promotion from the First Division, have defied all expectations this season. Avoiding the drop, or even a mid-table finish would have been acceptable at the start of the campaign.
The fact they are challenging for Europe is credit to their durability and tenacity this season.
Still, having sat second for so long the effects of a tiring season are beginning to show and Pat Scully's side looked a weary team at the weekend.
The 2-0 defeat inflicted by Eamon Zayed's brace relegates Rovers to fourth in the table and out of the European placings with just four games remaining.
Scully was critical of his team's defending against Drogheda and believes soft goals in recent games have cost his team.
"We've (made defensive errors) in three games now, basically we haven't learned," he said. "When you do that you can have no complaints, you are giving teams the game.
"Against Drogheda we just weren't strong or brave enough. It's very disappointing that we've haven't learned from our mistakes but we'll have to over the closing three or four games.
The manner in which Rovers conceded their title push is most galling for Scully.
"I'm very disappointed that we aren't in with a chance of challenging for the league," he added. "We threw it away in 10 to 12 days or whatever its been. We have been the masters of our own downfall.
"The three games we've played we've murdered ourselves. The standard of goals conceded has been despicable. It's not acceptable and we can't keep doing that.
"At this time of the season concentration and focus should be 100 per cent. At the moment we look like we've taken our foot away from it a little and looking for an excuse. But there's none there, we've only got to look to ourselves."
