ALLOA skipper Andy Graham praised his team’s fighting spirit as they battled back from a goal down to beat Dundee United on penalties on Saturday.

The Wasps fell behind to a Matty Smith strike in the first half, but a late Alan Trouten penalty levelled things up before the away side won the shootout and made it through to the Irn-Bru Cup third round.

It was the fourth time already this season that Jim Goodwin’s side have come from behind to secure a draw, having done so twice already against Dundee United and away to Inverness.

But for Graham, the team’s ability to fightback is no surprise.

The 34-year-old said: “It’s not something that’s new or different in this team.

“I think last season we had the most points from a losing position. So, that just sums up the quality and the mentality of the squad.

“I’ve been in teams in the past where you kind of just accept that you are beat. But, even last week at Inverness, we all still believed that we would get a chance and today, even at 1-0, you always get opportunities.

“I knew we would get one in the last 20 minutes and it’s just about taking it. We had enough opportunity first half to be ahead and that does eat away at you.”

Graham was the man tasked with taking the decisive penalty in the shootout. While he may not have been the natural choice, the skipper showed admirable nerve as he slotted it comfortably past Benjamin Siegrist.

He continued: “We are delighted to get through. It’s a cup competition and you want to be in the draw in the next round.

“I thought in the first half we should have been ahead. We created a lot of chances and the fact that we didn’t (go in ahead) made it difficult for us because they’ve still got some quality in their team and really good young players.

“The longer the game’s gone 1-0 the more you were worried it was going to get away from us.

“But, obviously, Trouten has come on and he just doesn’t miss penalties. So, the second we got it we were delighted.

“At that point, we had thrown so many bodies forward that the game was almost like a basketball game at times.”

Alloa started the game in a frantic fashion and could have been three goals up within ten minutes.

And Graham admitted the side would have to start taking their chances against superior opposition.

He said: “That’s the difference in this league. We need to take the chances when they come.

“In League One, you get more chances and can afford to miss some. But, you can’t do that when playing week in, week out against full time teams.

“I think if we start scoring the first goal, then we’ll really kick on from there.”