FRIDAY night's humiliation won't be the result that condemns Alloa to relegation from the Championship, but it will undoubtedly go down as one of the low points in a season of bitter disappointments.

If and when Alloa are relegated, and with every week the latter looks more likely, other results will have been far more costly – the points dropped at home to Dundee and Ayr United, amongst other results, spring to mind.

Perhaps it was just a case of bad timing for the Wasps. On the hunt for much-needed points to clinch the title, they faced a Hearts side and a manager who had something to prove after a disappointing few weeks.

On the fourth occasion of these sides facing each other this season, Hearts pulled no punches and by the same time the following day, they were crowned champions.

Alloa had a handful of chances in the opening 20 minutes and on another day could have taken the lead. The ball fell to Alan Trouten in the box but he blasted it over Craig Gordon's net.

Scott Taggart's deep cross then landed on the roof of Gordon's net and the former Celtic keeper was scrambling as he made sure the ball didn't find the corner.

Another chance then fell to Trouten after some nice passing by Alloa. Once again, his effort was off-target.

It wouldn't be long before Peter Grant's men felt the severity of the missed chances as Hearts took the lead through a well-worked goal. Andy Halliday received the ball outside the box and, not closed down quickly enough, he had time to wait for the run of Liam Boyce and played a great pass into his path. Boyce's first-time finish gave Neil Parry no chance.

The hosts doubled their lead five minutes later and despite the scorer again being Boyce, it was made by Euan Henderson. Picking the ball up next to his own box, he ran the length of the pitch and managed to get a toe to the ball before Parry came rushing out, catching his legs and conceding the penalty. Boyce made no mistake in doubling his tally.

Alloa kept Hearts' advantage at two until half-time and with 45 minutes to go, there was more than enough time for the Wasps to stage a comeback. However, barely five minutes into the second half, Robbie Neilson's men extended their lead.

In his own half Peter Haring had too much time to try and find a pass. Finding it is one thing, executing it another. His through ball to Henderson was measured to perfection, cutting through Liam Dick and Andy Graham. One on one with Parry, Henderson lifted the ball over the outrushing keeper.

From there, Alloa seemed to self-destruct. Minutes later, Henderson's cross was met by Aaron McEneff who forced Parry into a good save. However, he could only knock the ball into the path of Boyce, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to claim his hat-trick.

Unfortunately for Alloa, Hearts smelled blood and didn't take their foot off the gas. McEneff was next to add his name to the scoresheet. Substitute Steven Naismith's ball over the top was collected by McEneff. He faked to shoot and sent Taggart flying past before opening his body and firing a low shot into the corner. Parry didn't move as the ball flew past him.

The night would get worse as Hearts added a sixth in the dying minutes of the game. A long ball over the Alloa defence came to nothing, and Dick passed the ball back to Parry. With both Armand Gnanduillet and Jamie Walker closing him down, Parry took a touch instead of clearing his lines and from that moment that eventual outcome was inevitable. Too slow to play the pass to Taggart, Gnanduillet was able to scoop the ball into Walker's path and he fired the ball through Parry's legs.

With three games left, Alloa look likely to be playing in League 1 next season. Eight points behind both Morton and Arbroath, the Wasps must win their remaining three fixtures and hope at least one of the two teams above them lose their last three to at least make the relegation play-off position.

Alloa host Raith Rovers this weekend while Morton host Hearts. The two teams face each other the following week, and should results go Alloa's way, the meeting could be crucial.

The team have maintained a never say never attitude these past weeks, and that will be true until it is mathematically impossible. However, it now looks a task too tough for the Wasps.

ALLOA: Parry, Robertson, Graham, Taggart, Dick, Williamson (Murray), Hetherington, Grant, Cawley, Trouten (Scougall), Cameron. UNUSED SUBS: Willison, Buchanan, Jamieson, Connelly, Thomson.