Alloa goal hero Liam Buchanan insists they are well capable of ripping up the form book as unbeaten title favourites Hearts swing into town this weekend.

The former Partick Thistle star, known to his team mates as ‘Bucks’, notched his third of the season from the spot in the 2-1 defeat to Falkirk last Saturday but he reckons their performance is proof that they can hang with the league’s big boys.

The lifelong Hibs fan, who scored against his boyhood heroes in the Wasps’ 2-1 win earlier this season, is now hoping he can make amends with his mates by helping topple their Edinburgh rivals.

Buchanan told Advertiser sport, “I was pleased to get my third goal of the season last weekend and I would love to add to that, especially against Hearts, but it is always nice to score no matter who you are playing.

“I grew up supporting Hibs and obviously I will have a few of my mates hoping I can score on Saturday especially after my equaliser in the Hibs game.

“I would love to score but for me I would rather be scoring goals in games that earn us points because other wise they don’t mean anything.

“I don’t care whether it is Hearts, Hibs or Cowdenbeath as long as we win. Hearts are flying at the moment and we know it will be a difficult challenge for us.

“They will be full of confidence from the way things have gone for them and the results they have had but hopefully we can turn the form book on its head and get a result this weekend.

“We can take confidence from the way we have played in most games and if we can reproduce that then there is no reason why we can’t get a result at the weekend.

Buchanan reckons there are plenty of positives to take from the defeat at the Falkirk Stadium because they proved they can match the home side’s passing style but warns that they must now look to turn good performances into points to move up the table.

He said, “I thought we played really well in periods of the game, and we were always quite comfortable but obviously in the end we are disappointed not to get the result that we probably deserved on our play.

“We still have plenty of belief because we have been playing well and creating chances but it is about getting results at the end of the day.

“We know we can do better ourselves to make sure we don’t get beat in games that we should maybe win. It was good to see us go and match a team who are renowned for passing the ball about and playing in a certain style but I think we proved we are a good footballing side as well.” The 29-year-old has immediately forged a formidable partnership with top scorer Greig Spence and he is hoping the in-form hitman can shake off a hamstring injury in time to line-up alongside him against Hearts.

Buchanan added, “Spence is a big player for us with the goals he has scored this year and it would be a huge boost to have him back so hopefully he comes through training fine and makes the game.

“The gaffer changed the system for the Rangers game and so it is a few weeks since we have both played through the middle but I would love for us to play together again this week.

“It just depends the style and formation the manager wants to go with for what is another tough game. Each game is a different situation and I am happy to go and do my best in whatever role the manager wants me to play.”