ALLOA goal hero Iain Flannigan hopes the 1-0 win over Raith Rovers can be the turning point in their season. 

The talented midfielder slotted a crucial late penalty to earn his side their third win of the season and he says it has given the players a renewed belief that they can get out of trouble at the foot of the SPFL Championship. 

The former Partick Thistle star revealed how the players are relishing a new found freedom in the final third after new gaffer urged them to take more chances in attack. 

Flannigan told Advertiser sport: “This was a massive result for us. As the game went on it was becoming more and more likely that one goal was going to win it. The gaffer had stressed to us before the game and again at half time that we were more than capable of winning the game and obviously it is a huge three points for us. Hopefully now this result can kick start our season and we need to start picking up more wins. 

“There is a feel good factor back in our dressing room, but obviously playing well and winning games is a big factor in that. That is always the case in football that when you're winning it is great and when you're not it is a bit of a toil. The boys have shown a good attitude all season though, and we know it important just to work hard, stick together and believe in what we're doing.

“The gaffer is trying to get us to have a more positive approach to games in terms of our forward play and I think that was evident in the Raith game. It is difficult to do when you are constantly losing games and the team is maybe not flowing as well, but I think it is on everyone's shoulders to take the responsibility of that extra chance in the final third.

"If we can do that then I am sure we will pick up more wins. Obviously, we have got our rewards with the Raith win, but that was because of our hard work. No one left anything out on the pitch and we gave everything we had, but that is what it is going to take from now until the end of the season.”

[Extended match highlights courtesy of Raith TV]

Alloa now head into another crucial clash as they play host to Greenock Morton on Saturday and Flannigan says the whole squad will go into the game with renewed optimism and belief as they look to gain an elusive first home win of the season.

He said: “It definitely has to be full steam ahead for Saturday now and it would be nice to post another three points. We just have to take each game as it comes because there are no easy games in this league. It comes down to how you perform on the day and so we just have to bring it each and every game. We will look forward to the game now though with renewed confidence and we will go in looking to win the game.

"There isn't a lot between the two sides and so we have already had some close encounters with them this season so it will come down to how we perform on the day. Hopefully if we keep looking to be positive in games then we will get our rewards for that.”

The midfield ace, who turns 28 years old on January 15th,  proved to be the match winner having earned and slotted the winning spot kick which put the icing on a man of the match performance, but admits he was almost headed for an early bath after a crazy five minute spell of fouls in the first half.

Flannigan added: “I think with my booking it looks a lot worse than it was. I felt I got a touch on the ball, but because of the conditions I have slid right through the player as well so that left me walking a bit of a tightrope after that, but luckily I survived to score the penalty later in the game.

"I think it was a great counter attack from us in the build up to the penalty. It was a brilliant pass by Eddie [Ferns] to release Robbie [Crawford] and he has slipped me in well before the defender has brought me down. Eddie made a little claim to take it, but I wasn't having any of it and I am delighted to have slotted the penalty.”