GUTTED Alloa boss Danny Lennon heaped praise on his players performance despite their late 1-0 defeat at home to Raith Rovers.

The Wasps enjoyed the lion's share of chances and possession in the second half as they tried desperately to grab all three points, but a cruel twist of fate saw the Fifers snatch the spoils with a late Grant Anderson strike.

But the former St Mirren gaffer says he has nothing but admiration for the shift his players put in.

Lennon told Advertiser sport: “The positives are I would take that level of performance every single week, the commitment, determination and attitude of the players, desire right throughout the game. I thought a lot of spells we played some very good football and created some good opportunities, but we have to be more clinical to finish them off. There was a little bit of an error in the middle of the park for the goal, but they still have to go a long way and when you are right up in the top of the league then those are the breaks that you get it falls into the box for you and these are the very fine margins that we are up against. As I said though, we need to get that little bit more consistency. What I am pleased about that from the break until now is we have put in workman like performances like and if we continue to do that we will give ourselves every opportunity to keep ourselves in the game and gain very valuable points in a very competitive league. I take more positives out of this than I have in a long time. You know that we have really committed players – I felt they deserved more out of the game but to come and it showed that we are a good side and my only challenge now is to show those strengths on a regular basis and if we do that we will give ourselves a fighting chance.”

Lennon was full of praise for young forward Michael Duffy who caught the eye to lead the line brilliantly alongside Michael Chopra and the manager hopes they will in time form a formidable partnership.

The gaffer also feels that both of his attackers were desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and he is confident that it is just a matter of time before they end their barren run.

He said: “I thought Michael Duffy was great and he had been on international duty in Northern Ireland and we were touch and go whether we have him today and I thought he had a lot of energy and was exceptional against Falkirk the other week. He was unlucky to score on a number of occasions and I think that first goal will give him a real lift, but he isn't too far away. What we are encouraging and challenging these players to do is to play at that level of performance on a regular basis. There were two fantastic saves from the Raith keeper and Chops will be disappointed but I am taking heart in the way that we are taking opportunities into the box. For me, his first header he done everything right, but with the second one, I thought there was enough pace in the ball to directly header - he tried to make doubly sure of it and as good teams at the top of the league have, Raith Rovers got players back and blocked it terrifically well. He will make amends for that in weeks to come of that I have no doubt because he is a big player who is getting into the right positions.”

The 47-year-old was thrilled to see the return of Michael Doyle to the Alloa starting eleven and he felt like he had never been away with the performance he put in. The Wasps boss had special praise for a number of players and felt they did well in the absence of some key players.

Lennon added: “We had to change one or two things this week. Connor McManus had a virus and had to miss out, while Dougie Hill is also injured, but I think Mikk Reintham and Jason Marr were very good this week. It was great to see Michael Doyle coming back with enthusiasm a lot of good individual performances, delighted with the back four and with the goal keeper. I thought Kyle McAusland did everything we asked him to do in terms of nullifying the Raith attack. Graeme Holmes in the middle of the park was immense and Colin Hamilton showed good quality also. I just need them to now produce that kind of showing on a weekly basis.”