NEW Alloa boss Jim Goodwin paid tribute to his players after their heroic display delivered a 1-0 win away at promotion rivals Brechin City in his first game in charge last weekend.

The former St Mirren captain took over from Jack Ross, who joined the Saints his former club as their new boss last week, and he was delighted with the response he has received from the whole squad during his first week in charge.

Now the club’s new player/manager admits he is just desperate to carry on the good work of Jack Ross after fighting off some hot competition for the post manager’s hot seat.

Goodwin told Advertiser Sport: “The win over Brechin was fantastic. I was really looking forward to the game all week and the boys’ reaction to me getting the manager’s job has been fantastic.

"I can’t thank them enough and I think it showed in our performance. We could have had a couple of goals in the first half to make life a wee bit easier for ourselves, but I am just delighted with the commitment and desire.

“In the last six or seven minutes, we put bodies on the line; every single one of them were just desperate to get the three points.

"It’s a fantastic three points when you see the other results around us and the win puts us back on top of the league, which is where we want to be, so it’s a massive step in the right direction.

“I said a long time ago, when Jack Ross was in charge, the group of players which we have are fantastic and I think that is why the chairman was inundated with CVs, because every manager out of work knew, looking at the squad, how good we are and I have been very fortunate to be given the opportunity, and I just want to carry on the good work Jack has done and.

“I can’t thank the lads enough for their effort. The first win is always important so I am absolutely thrilled to get it in my first game as a manager.”

Goodwin is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground after the crucial away win against their fellow promotion hopefuls sent them back to the top of the League One table, but admits he was just as thrilled to see them record another clean sheet after a few poor league results in recent weeks.

He said: “We have to keep things in check and realise it is only the end of the first quarter of the season, but we have played everyone now and we know what every one of the other teams are like.

“We had a little blip dropping two points at Stenhousemuir being 2-0 up, and getting beaten in our last home game by Airdrieonians, so it was important that we put that spell behind us and get back to winning ways in the league.

“I stressed during the week and prior to today’s game that clean sheets were important because we will always score goals, we are so dangerous going forward, we have great players in attacking parts of the pitch, it was so important defensively.

“Big Neil Parry hasn’t had much to do all day and he then pulls out an absolute wonder save at the end, but that’s what he is there to do.”

The 34-year-old midfielder revealed he found it difficult to leave players out of his first starting eleven following the club’s excellent win over Bala Town the previous week, but he was delighted by the attitude of all his players in getting behind the whole team.

Goodwin added: “I had a couple of really difficult decisions to make today, making a couple of changes, and these are difficult conversations with the lads because we went down to Bala in Wales and played really well, won 4-2.

“I have to say that the boys took it really well, they were very respectful and of course they are disappointed.

"I can’t tell you the number of times I have had the same thing through the years, from managers telling me I was not starting.

“It is a horrible feeling, so I completely understand the situation the boys are in, but they were great and put that feeling behind them, and were supportive of the starting eleven.

"That’s what we have got a great squad and the boys on the bench want us the win just us the starting eleven do, we are blessed to have that.”