SCOTT TAGGART is hoping Alloa's squad use the pain of missing out on promotion to help drive their League One title bid this season.

The right back was ever-present during the last campaign as the Wasps came within a penalty kick of returning to the Championship.

And he reckons his side's agonising shootout defeat to Brechin in the playoff final will mean they are fired up to put it right this time round.

Taggart told Advertiser Sport: "Coming so close and then missing out was definitely hard to take.

"Over the course of the season we probably did deserve to go up, but when it comes down to penalties it's a lottery.

"Brechin took their chances and to be fair to them, they earned their chance to play in the Championship. We now need to make sure we respond to that in the right way.

"There are more full-time teams in the league this time so it will be interesting to see how the title race plays out.

"Over the course of the season, the best team always wins. It's all about getting a good start, and if we can do that I think we have every chance of being in the mix at the end of the season."

Alloa have lost last season's top scorer Greig Spence to League One title rivals Raith Rovers, and although Taggart admitted that losing the striker was a massive loss, he feels the new additions to the Wasps' squad are capable of filling the void.

He said: "Spenny has done well to get his move back to full-time. He was a huge player last season for us and he scored a lot of goals, so obviously losing him is a blow.

"But the manager has brought in a few boys in attacking positions so hopefully they can replicate what he did for us.

"The new boys have looked good so far, so I think they'll do a job for us. You are always going to lose one or two players after a season like we had but I think we have strengthened overall. I'm sure the new signings will slot right in."

Taggart and his team-mates know they will get their season underway at Ross County in the Betfred Cup on July 15, and the defender is expecting the Highland side to be out for revenge after Alloa beat them at the same stage a year ago.

He added: "Going up there will be a difficult challenge. It's a strong group and there's good opposition in there.

"Hopefully we will be able to use the competition to get the season off to a good start."