ALLOA boss Peter Grant insisted he was delighted with his players – despite falling to a home defeat against Inverness.

On another day the Wasps could and possibly should have claimed all three points, but Grant was left to rue a combination of missed chances and mistakes which saw his side come away with nothing.

Having been on top in the early exchanges, the Wasps were hit by two goals in the space of five minutes before half-time – the first a Scott Taggart own goal, swiftly followed by Aaron Doran's stunning strike.

The game was put out of sight when Liam Dick was ordered off in the second half.

But the manager felt his players did enough to take something from the game – and believes the game could have taken a different turn had his side been awarded a penalty with the game goalless.

Grant told Advertiser Sport: "I thought the team were outstanding, but goals change games.

"The timing of the goals wasn't ideal, but I can't give anything but praise to the players.

"We created chances, we got in good positions and I thought the way we played was outstanding.

"We should have had a penalty at 0-0 for a tackle on Alan Trouten which beggars belief.

"Considering the free kicks the referee gave later for little shoves, it must have been a stonewaller if that was the case.

"If we had managed to go 1-0 up, it would have been very difficult for the opposition but they got the lift at the right time.

"However, I can't heap anything but praise on my players."

Grant's side were praised by Inverness boss John Robertson, who claimed a number of the Wasps' squad should be playing full-time football.

But he insisted his players are only focused on getting themselves away from the Championship drop zone.

Grant said: "It is again nice to hear opposition managers praise our players and I have no doubt in these players talents but the bottom line is we are second bottom of the league, although our performances might not deserve that position.

"We have maybe had three below standard performances this season but for me the players give everything and we are playing the hardest way to play at the moment because of our position in a very difficult league.

"The bottom line is we need to win games of football and find a way to win.

"I know I have the players who can win games, I know the way we play will win us games but we have to stop losing silly goals."