JIM GOODWIN reckons a contentious penalty call changed the game as Alloa lost out to Airdrieonians last Saturday.

The manager says there was nothing in the game until Daryll Meggatt was adjudged to have brought down Jake Hastie in the box in the first half, while Diamonds goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson should also have been shown a red card when he handled the ball outside his box.

But the Alloa boss was not making excuses for a display he labelled "really poor".

Goodwin told Advertiser Sport: "There was nothing in the game until the penalty decision. The boys are adamant that Daryll didn't commit a foul, but he's gone down and the referee gives it.

"My view [of the Ferguson incident] was the same as everyone else's in the stadium: Ferguson has picked it up outside the box.

"The linesman is looking right along the line but doesn't make the call. Those are big decisions and you need a bit of bravery to make them.

"But we can't rely on decisions to help us win games. The fact of the matter is there were far too many of our players not at it on the day.

"It was really, really poor. The first goal in any game is vital and that gave them a golden chance to get it.

"We had a chance just after it where Kevin Cawley has hit the post, but from then on we didn't offer enough.

"I don't think we merited anything on the day, and Airdrie were the better team. They deserve credit for that."

Goodwin admitted that his side's failure to create chances is a concern, but insisted that he is nowhere near pressing the panic button yet.

He said: "We're not creating as many chances as I'd like and that's something we're going to need to work on. The lack of goals is a concern.

"The first goal in this league is always crucial. We saw it last week for us against Queen's Park, and the week before against us for East Fife.

"It's not time to panic yet – it's still very early on in the season. We have still got a number of new signings in there who are yet to fully click into place. That's something we have to get sorted sooner rather than later because things have been poor so far."

The manager revealed that new loan signing PJ Crossan, who impressed as a substitute before going off with a hamstring injury, could face several weeks on the sidelines, while left-back Callum Crane also picked up a knock.

Goodwin added: "PJ has done his hamstring so there is no point in leaving him on to run about with it. We took him off because the players' health and wellbeing is the most important thing. It was important not to aggravate it any more.

"It's bitterly disappointing because we could see glimpses of his speed and attacking threat when he came on. He gave us another dimension.

"If it's as serious as we think it is then he is looking at four to six weeks out. It's a shame for him.

"Callum Crane picked up a knock as well – he took a bang on his knee and was struggling for the last 15 to 20 minutes so that's something else we will have to assess ahead of next week."