Alloa boss Barry Smith would take points over positive displays

Alloa are without a league win since the beginning of November and currently occupy the relegation play-off spot in the Championship.

The weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Falkirk was soured by the fact their opponents proved largely unimpressive on the day — a sentiment echoed in the post-match comments of Bairns’ gaffer Peter Houston.

Smith is now hoping his side can follow suit and produce an ‘ugly’ win at all costs.

He said: “It’s frustrating for us, because we thought we played well throughout the game and created chances, but that doesn’t pick up points.

“We can’t keep getting the pat on the back for playing well, because it’s the points that are most important.

“It doesn’t matter how you get them; I’d happily take an ugly win.” He added: “We have good players, good passing players, and we like to think that’s the type we are.

“We try to be positive because we are creating chances, but we said the same last week where we thought we should have won the game.

“Ultimately we have to staring picking up the three points — we’d like to that playing the way we do but but hopefully that will come in time.

“If they weren’t getting into scoring positions and creating chances I would be worried. So hopefully it will turn again — sooner rather than later.” Smith is now looking ahead to this week’s encounter with Rangers at the Indodrill Stadium.

The visitors will be looking to avenge their earlier Petrofrac Cup defeat at the groung, but Smith insists his side remain upbeat.

He said: “Next week’s game against Rangers is a completely different game,, but the one thing for our players is the confidence they can take from previous results we have against them this season.

“It will be an extremely difficult game and one will not be taking lightly.

“But one of the biggest things [in previous meetings] was the way we defended against Rangers, which we did very well and we will need to do that again next week if we are to get a result.”