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Paul Hartley spoke to the media after our 3-1 defeat by Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium in the Premier Sports Cup.

Paul declined to use the fact our pre-season build-up has been disrupted by injuries and illness as an excuse for what was a below-par performance.

He said: “We can’t keep making that as an excuse. We’ve got a lot of work to do and I keep saying that.

“We’ve got a game on Tuesday (our final Group A game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Balmoral Stadium)  and then we can really do some work.

 “We have to be ready for our league opener (against Falkirk on July 31).

Mitch Megginson equalised after Peterhead took the lead, after just three minutes.

Further goals, either side of half-time, ensured all three points stayed in the Blue Toon.

On the actual game, Paul said: “We were off the pace.

“We created chances but it wasn’t us, there was no intensity to our play and as a team, we just didn’t function properly.

“We had too many players off it and we didn’t do the basics well. “We didn’t close players down, we lost too many second balls and our decision making was poor.

“It’s basic errors that cost us.

“We could have been 2-1 up, but we’re conceding at poor times. We conceded in the first three minutes then just before half-time.

“We’re conceding too many sloppy goals and know that has to improve.”

Mitchel Megginson went off during the second half but is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s game, which kicks off at 7.45pm and will be screened live on CRFC TV.

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