Grilled vice-captain Quah Han Kok was first to admit that stand-in goalie Alvaro Silvera would have fingers pointed at him after two displays of less-than-assuring goalkeeping, and informed reporters that Silvera was taking it on the chin. "He knows he has not been at his best, but he's a part of the team and we pull together."

Disappointed Birds fans were not as forgiving, and not a few of them moaned that the manner of their fifth-round Cup exit reminding them all too clearly of how the club lost the S-League title some seasons ago. "Then, we just needed a draw, but Valdir had to go off and we promptly crashed." storekeeper Loh Wing Siong, 32, recalled. "Argh!"