Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 10:59am

Wasps looking to attack against The 'Shire

by Jamie MacDonald

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Darren Smith is one of the players Allan Maitland hopes will fire Alloa to victory on Sunday.

ALLAN Maitland is expecting his attacking players to provide the fire power to take them past East Stirlingshire on Sunday.

After a strong defensive showing in the weekend's 2-1 defeat at Dundee, the Alloa Athletic boss is hoping those at the other end of the park can unlock the door to the second round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Maitland told Advertiser Sport, "I thought we did really well on Saturday playing against a club with aspirations of the SPL. We seemed to have a wee bit more about us than in the past. We defended well but this Saturday will be completely different and we will have to go and attack, this will make it harder.

"It is a game we have to look forward to and the onus is on us to win. That is why we have guys like Brian Prunty, Darren Smith, David Gormley, Jim Lister and Kevin McDonald."

The 'Shire narrowly missed out on promotion from Division Three last season and the Wasps gaffer is expecting nothing less than a tough game.

"They have lost some players in the summer but got through their first game against Stranraer," said Maitland.

"When you have Jim McInally (East Stirling's manager) at any club you will be doing well. He showed with Morton he was a good manager and obviously he is going to make the team much better for a start."

Former Rangers and Partick Thistle player Billy Gibson, who had been on trial, signed a one-year deal this week and played in central defence at Dens Park.

Fellow trialist Aaron Somerville has now been released and Dougie 'Jinky' Wilson has been given more time to earn himself a deal.

And Maitland is happy with his squad for the coming season.

He said, "There are no plans to bring in anyone else. We are in decent shape and have worked hard to get these players.

"We have a really good squad and we will give them every opportunity."

Alloa's game away to East Stirlingshire has been switched to Sunday at 3pm as Stenhousemuir are using the artificial Ochilview pitch on Saturday.