Midfield ace Graeme Holmes says Alloa do not have time to feel sorry for themselves after a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Rangers at the Indodrill Stadium last weekend.

The Wasps were left feeling hard done to for the third time in as many weeks, but the former Dunfermline star reckons they must simply do better to secure the crucial victory they crave.

The 29-year-old put in a man-of-the-match display as he helped his side take the game to the fallen Glasgow giants. The Clackmannanshire outfit ultimately came up short as the Gers left with a fortunate win, and he believes there is crucial lessons Alloa must learn from that defeat.

Holmes told Advertiser sport: “The last three weeks have probably been as well as we have played all season, but we have one point from that spell so we will happily play badly and win next time. It is great to be playing in a side that is playing well, but not one that is playing well and losing games.

“We have to start picking up points and quickly. Yes, we have to cut out the mistakes, but we also have to put the ball away at the other end because if we had taken even a couple of our chances against Rangers then we would’ve won the game. It was a very frustrating afternoon for us having played so well.

“It is not good enough though - it is one mistake that has cost us and other than Miller’s shot off the post, I don’t recall them having any other clear cut chances, but we still lost. It felt like we were pretty dominant throughout the match, but then as the gaffer said to us after the game, the only thing we should be looking to dominate is the scoreboard.” Holmes was buoyed by the recent form of the squad and is still hopeful they can take the positives from their last three performances and turn them into victory in their crunch clash with relegation rivals Livingston this weekend.

He said: “The pleasing thing is how we played against one of the top sides in the league. For me that is well as we have played against them for an entire ninety minutes.

“We were dominant in spells, created chances and never really looked under threat, but we have come away with no points from it and we now need to rectify that against Livingston.

“Any game against the teams roundabout us now are massive and we have to look to go and pick up three points. This weekend is no different, but we believe we can win every game we play in this division because we have played well against every team throughout the season so I am sure all the boys will be fired up and looking to get the three points.

“I don’t think we need to avenge the 5-0 loss there earlier in the season because as a team in the position we are in we shouldn’t need any more motivation.” The former Dundee United trainee reckons his side will go from strength to strength in the coming weeks as injuries continue to clear up in the squad, but he would also welcome any new additions that the manager may make during the January transfer window.

Holmes added: “It has been great to see a full bench again and players getting back fit to challenge for their place in the team again.

“It is always healthy to freshen things up with some fresh blood, we have everyone just about back fit here now and so the more competition for places the better for us.”