Wasps man-of-the-match Jason Marr says the narrow 1-0 SPFL Championship defeat to Queen of the South proves they have the ability to end their winless and move clear of the SPFL Championship relegation zone.

The former Falkirk defender led Alloa through an early onslaught from their hosts at Palmerston Park which allowed them to eventually get on top in the match, but he is disappointed that it is during their spell of dominance that they conceded the deciding goal.

The talented defender does, however, believe that the football they produced in the match proves that it is a question of when, and not if, they turn their fortunes around.

Marr told Advertiser sport: “The luck hasn’t been going our way for a while now, but we know how good we are and that it is only a matter of time before it turns and we start putting those chances away. We are confident we will soon steer clear from the bottom and hopefully it begins this weekend.

“We played some really nice football at times in the match once we found our feet and with the second half display especially we definitely deserved a draw at the very least. We had enough chances in the game.

“We’ve had one cleared off the line and then the keeper has pulled off a wonder save from Mark Docherty so we are pretty frustrated by it. We always knew it would be a difficult game going down to Palmerston Park and so it proved.

“The first twenty minutes especially were very tough, so to come through that spell and turn the game around to dominate the way we did, made losing it late on even tougher to take. It was a sloppy goal from our point of view and we are undone by a second ball from a set piece.” Marr returned to the starting 11 in place of suspended skipper Ben Gordon and produced an eye-catching display to help keep James Fowler’s men at bay for long spells and he now hopes it will lead to an extended run in the team.

The 25-year-old also reckons the addition of the new blood into the squad has given them an extra dynamic and he expects them to have a key role in the Wasps escape from the SPFL Championship trap door.

He said: “I was pleased with my own performance at Queen of the South and hopefully I have done enough to keep my place. Kyle getting sent off means I now have a chance once again to do my bit and it was great to be back in the fold again. I thought my fitness was lacking, but it was just the amount of pressure they put us under in the opening twenty minutes.

“Once I got my second wind I was fine and it was good to be able to hit the ground running again because you are always wary about coming back in cold after missing a few weeks of the action.

“The new lads have added a real freshness to the team and every one is now fighting for places again which is great for us.

“The more they bed in as well then the better they will get. Isaac, Greg and Calaum were players we didn’t know much about, but they have some real quality and hopefully they can show that in the coming weeks.

“Also to have someone like Phil is massive for us because he is a top player and I think he could be the difference for us.” The next match with relegation rivals now becomes the proverbial ‘six-pointer’ for the Clackmannanshire outfit, but that is something the experienced defender doesn’t believe will faze them.

Marr added: “Cowdenbeath now becomes a massive showdown for us because we need the win, but we have gone there and won already this season so hopefully we can do it again.

“A win would take us back above them and a loss would put them six clear so that is the kind of pressure we have to deal with, but we are well used to it by now.”