Queen of the South boss wants players to do the basics against Kelty Hearts

Marvin Bartley wants his players to do the basics for 90 minutes when they welcome Kelty Hearts to Palmerston tomorrow.

A defensive mistake from Efe Ambrose cost the South at Alloa Athletic on Saturday as the 1-0 loss underlined their struggle for League One form.

Bartley said: “The bare minimum is giving 100 per cent effort and being the best version of yourself.

“Not everyone is going to play well every week and people will make mistakes but some of the things out there hurts to see.

“All you can do is try and kick on but we need to do the basic things well for 90 minutes in a game and not to get bored of doing that and sooner or later you’ll create chances.”

The manager revealed the squad had a clear-the-air conversation in the aftermath of the Alloa defeat, their eighth of the campaign, and the players looked dejected as they left the ground.

Bartley said: “They are upset, talking is easy but some players had harsh words for each other and themselves as a group where they are letting themselves and each other down so they are hurt and dejected.

“They’re not a group of players who look at it and say it’s another game, tick it off and just go home.

“They are massively frustrated which is understandable because they cost themselves and that shouldn’t have happened.

“Confidence dips if you’re not winning games of football, but sometimes it’s an excuse because there wasn’t a confidence issue playing teams higher up the league, the games always start level.

“It wasn’t confidence on Saturday, it was a basic error.”

Ambrose’s slack pass allowed the Wasps to attack and former Queens striker Ally Roy added insult to injury by scoring the winner.

The manager added: “We have to do the basic things well and