ALLOA found themselves the bottom of the Championship table last Saturday after defeat to Queen of the South.

The Wasps played against Hearts last night, after Advertiser Sport went to print, and kicked-off at Tynecastle one point behind Arbroath at the foot of the table.

With both Alloa and Queen of the South sitting on one point going into Saturday's game, it was a great chance for Alloa to start building some distance between themselves and the relegation spot, however they couldn't capitalise.

In a game with so much to play for so early in this shortened season, Alloa had the first real chance of the game but couldn't take it.

With 10 minutes to go before half-time, Robert Thomson managed to cut the ball back to Alan Trouten; however, he uncharacteristically missed the target and sent the ball over the bar.

The visitors would go on to rue the miss just minutes later as Queen of the South took the lead. Gregor Buchanan leaped to head in William Gibson's cross despite appearing to foul captain Andy Graham in the process.

As has happened on more than one occasion already this season, Alloa conceded again shortly after the restart. Barely 60 seconds into the second half, Joe McKee's free-kick left Neil Parry, making his first start since injuring himself on October 13, with no chance.

Despite being bottom of the table, it is far too early for any concern. Alloa have shown in every game they've played this season that they are more than capable of staying up again.

Peter Grant insists he is pleased with the majority of his team's performances, despite the results not reflecting their efforts.

He told Advertiser Sport: "A big percentage of the games I've been pleased with. Saturday was probably the biggest disappointment, I felt we kept breaking the game, not doing the basics well.

"We huffed and puffed more than anything else, so the biggest disappointment so far is Saturday's match.

"Apart from that, generally I've been really pleased with the performances, obviously not the results.

"The bottom line is all the training and all the things you put together is to try and win and I think we've shot ourselves in the foot too many times.

"You've got to win games of football, that never changes. As I always say you've got to learn from the last game and prepare for the next one."

With so many positives to take from each game, Grant believes this side have to eradicate the cheap mistakes that are gifting teams goals.

He continued: "Letting the cross come in [against Queen of the South], giving too many free-kicks away against Dundee, then an error puts Dunfermline in front so the biggest problem, I believe, is as a team we give goals away cheaply.

"Every goal has been from a dead ball or a bad decision. We have to eradicate them. When we score a goal, we have to work so, so hard to get it and we've gave away goals too cheaply."

Grant has used the Betfred Cup this season to give players game time as the lack of pre-season has meant not every player is fully fit.

He made major changes in the last cup game against Stenhousemuir, giving 90 minutes to Andy Graham and Stefan Scougall as well as handing debuts to youngsters like Lucas Williamson.

"I can't afford injuries," Grant said, explaining his rotation. "It's so difficult, you see it in the Premier League in England, they're full time and they're complaining...well, what about us that are part-time?"

After securing a spot in the last 16, his side play Hearts on Saturday after last night's game at Tynecastle.

He said: "All you can hope in the cup is for a home tie and that's exactly what we've got, so you've got to try and make the best of that."