Pressley wants 'resilience and character' from squad after difficult start
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Alloa followed the same scoreline at home to Airdrie and left Dundee with no chance of Premier Sports Cup progress.
The latest setback came after Luke Graham could only clear Steven Buchanan's 68th-minute shot into his own net.
Games against Bonnyrigg Rose and Montrose in the coming week are now effectively pre-season fixtures for Dundee with Pressley already under pressure from fans to get things right ahead of the William Hill Premiership opener against Hibernian on August 3.
Asked how they respond, Pressley told Dee TV: 'By accepting, by understanding that's not good enough, and as a group, me, the players, have to show resilience and respond to that.
'It's far from the ideal start, it's not what we wanted, but you have to show character in these moments of time and that's certainly what I expect us to do.
'They are a very good group. I have said we need reinforcements but that's irrelevant because we have to do better than that.
'They are a good group, they want to do well, but it will take time. But we have to be better.
'I did see improvements. I saw improvements in our defensive principles, we were much better in those. But from a creative aspect we certainly have to be better.
'So, there is a lot of work ahead of us, but I know that.'
Group C leaders Alloa are one of just two teams to reach nine points with Hearts the other.
The Gorgie side all but secured top spot in Group E after making it 12 goals so far with a 4-0 win at Stirling but head coach Derek McInnes was left wanting more after their momentum stumbled at half-time.
'I'm not completely happy but happy with the approach of the team because, we have all seen it before, Premiership teams can get caught out,' he told Hearts TV.
'The way the players approached the game, that was never going to be the case.
'Good habits, winning another game helps things, clean sheets, but it still feels a wee bit short of what I'm looking for.'
Elsewhere, Motherwell secured a 1-0 win at Stenhousemuir to set up a crunch match with Morton on Tuesday, and St Mirren thrashed Annan 8-2 to ensure they will have a group decider with Ayr next Sunday.
Livingston kept up the pressure on Kilmarnock with a 2-0 win over Brora while Falkirk still have work to do after being held to a goalless draw by Cove.
The two groups that do not contain Premiership clubs remain the most open with Partick Thistle and East Kilbride leading the way.
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