Midfield maestro Iain Flannigan says Alloa are still very much a work in progress despite the new-look squad navigating their way through a tricky Petrofac Cup first tie away to Brora Rangers with a 1-0 win last weekend.

Geoff Mitchell’s strike early in the second half was enough for Danny Lennon’s men to advance to the second round after a surviving a late scare, but the Wasps playmaker reckons they might have made life easier for themselves if they had taken their chances.

Flannigan told Advertiser sport: “We always knew Brora was going to be a step up on our pre-season games, but by all accounts they’re a much stronger side. I felt like we started the game really well and then had a lull in the middle.

“Luckily we re-grouped at half time and started well again to get the goal, but it was a tough afternoon.

“There are definite positives that we can take from the game, but it is still very early stages of the season so we are just pleased to be in the next round.

“It was a lot of travelling for us, but the club managed the tie really well in terms of preparation and that was key. We could have made life easier for ourselves if we’d taken a few of our chances, but they had a good spell after we got the opener then put us under some pressure late on.

“They have some players in their side though so it wasn’t a surprise and I thought we handled it well. It is a brand new team at the club this season and it is starting to gel nicely, but there is still plenty for us to work on.

“The manager is working hard in training with us to get across they way he wants to do things and each week we are getting closer to that.” Flannigan has been one of the stand out performers since the beginning of pre-season and he insists that the competitive nature of the squad at the Indodrill Stadium this term will be an added incentive for players to produce their best.

He said: “The competitive nature of the squad is great for the team because with two players for every position it means you need to be on your game or you won’t play.

“As a professional player you always want to do your best for yourself, the fans and the club each time you take to the field, but to have the added pressure of someone waiting to take your position if you don’t perform is definitely another added incentive for us all.” The former Partick Thistle star has now switched his focus to this weekend’s League Cup first Round clash as Alloa travel to face Colin Cameron’s Berwick Rangers - and says they certainly will not be taking their lower league opponents lightly.

Flannigan added: “Berwick Rangers will be another step up for us and we expect another tough game.

“We can’t take anything for granted and have to conduct ourselves in the same manner.

“We will be confident of winning there, but we still need to go and perform on the day. They will see us a scalp to take because we’re in a higher division so we need to be ready for that.”