MORTON defender Thomas O’Ware has told how extra time spent on the training field with manager Jim Duffy this week has left him better equipped to deal with top quality strikers such as Kenny Miller and Anthony Stokes.

In the space of eight days, the Ton will have hosted Championship heavyweights Rangers and Hibs at Cappielow.

Ex-Scotland striker Miller and former Ton loan player Barrie McKay scored in Monday’s loss to the Gers, and O’Ware felt there were aspects of both goals he would have dealt with differently with the benefit of hindsight.

The 22-year-old revealed former defender Duffy gave him some pointers on how to manage those situations in future and he hopes to put this into practice going forward.

He told the Tele: “I thought we did really well and maybe deserved something out of the game. We put a lot into it but they had just a wee bit more quality in the final third.

“The first goal knocked us a wee bit; it was a bit unfortunate as in I should have maybe got out a wee bit quicker and he would’ve been offside.

“He [Andy Halliday] has just hit a shot and it’s going a mile wide and it’s hit my chest and fell to Kenny Miller, but he’s finished it well.

“After that I thought our attitude was really good. We gave them a game and we came out in the second half and had a very good 20-minute spell. But then they scored the second goal, which was quite a good goal, so I think we were quite unlucky with that.

“We were pressing the game and the gaffer never went with a defensive-minded midfielder, so Ross [Forbes] and Joe [McKee] were up pushing the game and doing well.

“But it was then that Barrie [McKay] started playing in behind in the hole and causing problems, and two seconds earlier he hit the crossbar and nobody went to him. So I was in two minds and I tried to delay him as long as I could. I had to go out at some point and it’s a good bit of skill with the touch and finish.

“The manager spoke to me the next day and just showed me one or two things to help me in the future in those situations, to try and delay them a bit longer or if I need to give the foul away.

“It’s always good that our manager was a defensive player, if something has gone wrong a wee bit, so he’s good at pointing it out — but not just pointing it out.

“I stayed behind after training the day after the game and he was walking me through Barrie’s run and showing me body positions and ways to help deal with similar situations.

“Because he’s been in those situations, he notices it where other managers might not see it, and that’s a big positive as a player.

“I’ve played two games at the back against Rangers. They’ve got a lot of quality, so you’re tested to the limit and you get a lot out of it. I enjoy it.”

O’Ware expects another thorough examination when the Easter Road outfit come to Greenock in a rescheduled match next Tuesday.

Alan Stubbs moved to sign Stokes on loan for the rest of the season, and having come directly up against him in Andy Bryan’s testimonial in the summer, he is fully aware of his capabilities.

In fact, Ton’s longest serving player is surprised the Irishman isn’t a first-team regular with parent club Celtic.

He added: “We’re still a young team and we’re learning every week, and it’s games like the Rangers match we can learn from — and we need to make sure we take it on into next week.

“You’re not going to get far unless you play against the top players, so the fact we get to play against players like Stokes on Tuesday is a positive for myself and the team.

“He’s a very good player. I think he should be playing in the Celtic team just now, but that’s just my opinion and I’m sure everybody has their own opinion.

“He gave us a bit of a doing in Andy Bryan’s testimonial, so I’m looking forward to playing against him again and trying to improve on that.

“Rangers and Hibs are both up there, both doing well, so it will be an equally hard match, and no matter how much effort you put in you get judged on results, so hopefully we get a result this time.”