Alloa boss Danny Lennon says the club will accept the challenge of defying their critics despite last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Raith Rovers.

The Wasps were the pre-season favourites with the bookmakers to finish bottom of the SPFL Championship and they now sit at the foot of the table after the opening three games all ended in defeat.

But the gaffer is convinced his men can turn things round, as long as they can learn quickly from their mistakes.

Lennon told Advertiser sport: “A lot of people have us down for finishing in the bottom of the table and to be fair, we are so far proving these people correct, but we will certainly take that challenge and go out there and prove that’s not the case.

“I certainly believe we have a good balance and that was evident in our first half performance but what we have to give ourselves a good platform but we need to make sure we do the basics right, we do not drop runners, very basic things have cost us severely.

“The goal gave Raith Rovers a massive lift and we have not had that the last couple of weeks.

“We need to make sure that the quality of chances that we did create especially in the first half we have to be ruthless in front of goal and ready to take these chances.

“It’s important that we once again learn from that, I think you can always learn in any defeat, but what we have to do is rise above that, sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say what a wonderful strike that was, and you can do absolutely nothing about it.

“If we had continued to play in the manner we did in the first half then we would have still caused Raith Rovers one or two problems.

“Our defending is very disappointing for the second and third goal, one from a set play and one where we drop runners because once again it is very basic.

“We have got to prove that we can do both sides of the game as well as we did in the first half for the full ninety minutes.” Despite the manner of their defeat at Stark’s Park, Lennon admits he has lots to be positive about.

He said: “If the half time whistle had been the full time whistle I would be a very happy man, but the two halves were totally different by contrast.

“There was a lot of pleasing stuff particularly in the first half, we looked compact, we defended as a team and broke as a team. We passed the ball well and created good opportunities. I thought it was quite an open and exciting game in the first half, but in the second half it took a wonderful goal then you could actually see once the ball goes in, our mentality changed and we stopped doing all the good things which got us success in the first half. We went longer and more direct and that put pressure upon us at the back so we got deeper and deeper and gave a quality Raith Rovers side time on the ball, but we have to be mentally stronger.” The 47-year-old was left to rue his side’s missed opportunities in the match after a number of golden chances to score went begging, and he is now urging his players to start believing in themselves if they are to compete in such a difficult league.

Lennon added: “The frustrating thing was when we were playing well we needed to get in front, we created good opportunities and had good possession, but we failed to hit the net, but what was pleasing is the way we created more clear cut chances that we did against Elgin City. I want to stick with the positives, but it is important that we learn from these past few games and move forward. They are a hard working group of players who will give absolutely everything again, but we have to make sure we play for the full ninety minutes. I know that if they do that and show the same appetite, hunger and belief then we will give every team in this league problems, perhaps outside Rangers.”