GARY Oliver admits Morton didn’t do the basics against Livingston on Saturday afternoon and it led to their second defeat in as many fixtures against David Hopkin’s men.

Ton fell to a 1-0 loss at home, less than a fortnight after their last defeat to Livi — a 2-0 loss in the first round of the Irn-Bru Cup in Greenock.

Oliver reckons Ton’s failure to complete the simple tasks against the visitors was the main problem.

He told the Tele: “We weren’t near our best on Saturday and it was difficult because we didn’t get close enough to the opposition or press them as well as we can do.

“Form with some players has dipped. It’s difficult to keep your form all throughout the season, of course it is, but you expect us to do the basics which we didn’t.

“We had a wee chat with the gaffer on Monday at training and amongst the players because we obviously know that Saturday’s performance and result wasn’t good enough.”

Manager Jim Duffy criticised his players after the final whistle for cutting out the midfield and going route one at times up against three solid centre-backs in Craig Halkett, Declan Gallagher and Alan Lithgow.

The boss admitted that he couldn’t understand his players’ thought process when they were hoofing balls into the area from 35 yards when only one striker in blue and white is over 6ft tall.

But Oliver believes the change in tactic on the field by the players was necessary — because Livingston’s organised, structured and hard-working style wasn’t allowing Ton to play their usual brand of creative and attacking football.

He said: “Different games against different opposition you have to change your game plan up like we’ve done before.

“But Livi weren’t allowing us to play our usual passing game.

“So the gaffer tried to change it up a wee bit.

“But they were strong at the back and very physical so the long ball didn’t really help us either.”

He added: “Livingston are obviously a very difficult team to play against though, they get in your face.

“But the boys know we have to do better if we’re to pick up more points as we go.”