JIM Duffy believes the outcome of tonight’s game with Livingston will depend on his side’s ability to compete.

Duffy will be looking for a much-improved defensive display from a Ton side who shipped three first-half goals on Saturday.

The Ton manager said: “You have to put things in perspective. Our defensive record has been exceptional.

“Up until the Celtic game, I think we were the two best teams in terms of our defensive records, away.

“You can’t ignore the fact that we didn’t play well [on Saturday], but we can’t go overboard about it.

“The players, by and large, as a team and a unit, have worked very hard and defended really well and put in a lot of good performances, particularly away from home.

“But on Saturday that wasn’t the case. We acknowledge it, we understand it and we’re disappointed with it — and angry.

“We have to try to do better in the next game.”

Duffy fully expects Ton to be competitive in tonight’s league fixture.

He said: “The next one against Livingston is going to be an unbelievably tough match.

“But I fully expect us to be really competitive and that’s the first thing.

“We know we’ve got our work cut out and my primary concern is our performance.

“If we get back to working hard, playing with high energy and playing as a team, then we’ve shown time and time again this season that we can get positive results — and that needs to start with the performance.”