MORTON manager Jim Duffy believed everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for Morton in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park. 

Both Pars goals came from defensive errors, and stand-in skipper Thomas O’Ware missed a spot-kick inside the first five minutes, pictured. 

Influential players Jamie Lindsay and Jai Quitongo both picked up knocks and had to be subbed during an all-round disastrous afternoon for Ton which saw their undefeated streak come to an end. 

But despite his frustrations, Duffy absolved Jamie McDonagh and Mark Russell from their sins and instead praised them for showing the determination to improve after their mistakes.

Duffy said: “It was a very eventful game and unfortunately not on a positive side, from our point of view. You look at the first half and think, ‘it’s just not going to be our day’.

"We missed a penalty, have two talented young players injured and two pass backs that lead up to the goals. So from that perspective it was always going to be a difficult day.

“Credit to the players, they never buckled. We got a goal back and the three young players who made mistakes — including Tam missing the penalty — I thought were excellent.

“Jamie [McDonagh] and Mark [Russell] were excellent after that and they showed great character and mental strength. Tam was immense at the back.

“Once we cleared our heads a bit and got the goal back I felt there was every chance we could get the equaliser, but it just wasn’t to be.

“We lacked a bit of creativity in the final third, we definitely didn’t create as many chances as we usually would. Gats [Derek Gaston] also had a couple of good saves but generally speaking they were on the counter in the second half.

“But it’s one of those days for us, a disappointing day. There was a few decisions as well that I don’t think either manager was happy with, but we have to try and get over it as best we can.”

Lindsay and Quitongo both had to be replaced in the first half and Duffy was disappointed to see two of his stars crocked. But he reckons the injuries played little part in the defeat.

He said: “Jamie picked up an ankle knock and with Jai it’s a knee injury.

We’ll have to wait and see how they are, it’s too early yet to know. 

“Jamie it was just the impact on the tackle and the boy landed on him, his ankle is quite heavily swollen.

“Jai knocked it past the goalkeeper and they just collided. I don’t think there was anything malicious in the collision but he’s caught him on the edge of the knee and his knee has planted. He’s in a lot of pain but we’ll just have to see.

“They both started the game well and they’ve both been playing really well, they’re good young players. It’s difficult when you’ve got to change things round. 

“But it was self-inflicted. If you miss a penalty and then give two pass backs away then it is self-inflicted. 

“It’s hard enough to win here without handing the opposition the initiative.”