Alloa boss Barry Smith refused to hammer his players after their 4-0 thrashing away to Livingston in the SPFL Championship last weekend.

The Wasps were their own worst enemies in the match as the ruthless Lions brushed them aside to seize on every opportunity that came their way but the gaffer believes he won’t have to say a single word to lift his men ahead of the visit of Glasgow giants Rangers this weekend.

Smith told Advertiser sport, “I don’t think there will be any need to pick the players up for this type of game because playing against Rangers takes cares of itself.

“The Rangers, Hibs and Hearts games are all the same that way – but it is games like last Saturday where we have to be up for it from the first minute - and for whatever reason we just weren’t at the races against Livingston.

“The better team won on the day and it is simple as that - they were better than us and took their chances. I won’t be too hard on my players and I don’t want them to forget how well they have done until Saturday where a few mistakes have cost us the game.

“I also think you can’t take away from the way Livingston played, they were the better team but having said that, the goals we lost from our point of view were very disappointing.” Smith says his men will have to produce the level of performance that saw them topple Hibs earlier in the campaign if they are to shock Ally McCoist’s side and he hopes his squad can focus on the football instead of getting caught up in the occasion.

He said, “The players know now that if they perform to the best of their ability then they are capable of winning games as they proved against Hibs and it is just now about performing to the standards that got us that win.

“Rangers obviously, have a huge squad to choose from with plenty of experience in their team but it is not for us to be overawed by that. We must go and perform the way we want to play and if we do that then it will ensure Rangers won’t come to our ground and roll us over.

“It is great for the club to get the stadium sponsored and for the fans to turn out in a packed ground but we have to make sure we don’t get caught up in the occasion. We have to make sure we perform on the pitch and that is the most important thing for us.” The 40-year-old was dealt a huge blow in the build up to the game earlier this week when it was confirmed that defender Daryll Meggatt has been ruled out for up to a month after suffering a broken foot three weeks ago and the gaffer believes it says everything about his star that he has been willing to play on with the injury until now.

Smith added, “To lose Daryll Meggatt to a broken foot is a blow for us but it is a testament to the player that he has played the last three games with the injury. Unfortunately it has now became too sore for him and he has to rest it up for a few weeks now.

“He has played through the pain barrier for us and that says everything about his commitment to this club and so we will make sure he is looked after now while he recovers. Meggatt’s absence now is a chance for someone else to step up and stake their claim for a place in the team.”