MORTON boss Anton McElhone has urged his players to find their mean streak following Saturday's defeat to Arbroath.

He admitted that his side dropped off in the second half, allowing Jack Hamilton to head home the winner with 13 minutes to play.

McElhone says he will be looking to for improvements up front and in defence as they aim to move away from the relegation zone with a win against Raith Rovers this Saturday.

He told the Tele: “We’ve got to take our chances in games but not only that, you’ve got to defend well too.

“If you come away from the game with a clean sheet then nine times out of 10 you’re in the driving seat to then come away with a win.

“That was the game plan, to be solid and compact and to be clinical.

“It is what it is and we just have to move on to next week.

“It’s always been taking things a game at a time.

“It’s been a tough result to take because, similar to Wednesday, we had a game plan, we lost a player early in Rabin [Omar] getting sent off and then this weekend with Chris Millar having to go off injured.

“At the end of the day we need to get wins, that’s the same again as next week.

"We tried to get players back into the team who had helped us get wins previously like Brian McLean and Robbie Muirhead.”

McElhone says he was disappointed Jim McAlister couldn't end his career with a victory after the captain came on as a late substitute for his final Morton appearance.

He added: “It was his final game and you’ve got to do the right thing.

"He has served the club so well and we had to give him the opportunity to go out with a bang, but it wasn’t to be.

“It was a decision that’s crept up on us and one that was personal for Jim.

“He goes with the blessing with everyone at the club. Is it ideal? No, but we can't make any excuses for the defeat.”