JUBILANT Alloa boss Danny Lennon heaped praise on his players battling spirit after the 1-1 draw at St Mirren last weekend.

The 47-year-old took a standing ovation from the home support as he returned to St Mirren Park for this first time since his departure from the Paisley club back in May 2014 [DOUBLE CHECK DATES), and it proved to be be one to remember as his new side came from a goal down to seal a crucial point that saw them climb off the foot of SPFL Championship table.

Lennon told Advertiser sport: “It was a very welcome point for us but one that we thoroughly deserved. I thought our work commitment, the attitude of the players and the determination which was missing collectively last week, was evident in spades last weekend. Our desire could maybe be seen in the number of yellow cards we picked up, but it is pleasing to come to a very difficult venue and take away a massive point for us.

“I was delighted with the reception I got from the St. Mirren fans and it was great that I could finally say a big thank you to them. I loved my four years at St. Mirren. It was an absolute pleasure to be the manager there and that we could have a little bit success along the way, but now my focus is fully on being the manager Alloa Athletic and it is an absolute privilege. It is a great wee club and where we are at this moment of time, we are playing in a highly competitive league and we are looking to try and achieve a fourth consecutive status in the Championship.

“What an achievement that would be for this club, so every point is valuable for us, it is a difficult challenge with the quality within the Championship this season. We won’t get our full satisfaction or our joy until the end of the season to know what we have achieved, but I have an honest bunch of players and it was great to see them respond in the manner they did, after going a goal down, and it was a very pleasing days work.”

The former Saints boss was disappointed with the manner of the goal that his side lost after a mix up between Mikk Reintam and keeper Andy McNeil gifted an easy opening goal to striker Lawrence Shankland.

But Lennon was impressed by the honesty of the pair who held their hands up to their mistake without him even saying anything.

Alloa now have a week off from action and the manager sees it as the perfect opportunity to heal his key players and work with his players on the training pitch.

He said: “We were disappointed at the goal we lost. Andy McNeil came into the side and made some fantastic saves. Big Mikk’s played in the past couple of games, but I have to give the players the benefit of doubt in that they haven’t really played together on match days, so maybe it was a wee bit of a misunderstanding there.

“The two of them have said they could have done better and I think as a manager when you don’t have to ask questions and the two players come out themselves with the answers then that is great honesty. They have made a mistake, but the biggest thing is they learn from this and improve on it for next time.

“Going into the break now it gives us the opportunity to rest players who have been carrying knocks, Dougie Hill and Michael Chopra, a wee ten day break which gives them time to recover, with us being a part time football club you only have the boys two nights a week, so it gives us an extra opportunity to work with them next weekend, top them up a little bit.”

The Wasps' gaffer has been busy on the transfer front this week as he allowed young midfielder Aron Lynas to go out on loan to get some game time, while also welcoming two familiar faces back to the club with a view to adding them to his squad in the coming weeks.

Lennon added: “We have allowed Aron Lynas to go on loan to East Stirlingshire until the end of the year to gain more first team action, which will be good for him, but we also have Michael Doyle and Greg Rutherford back at the club training. They will both be feature in the Reserve game on Monday night against Stenhousemuir and then we will take it from there.”