AT LEAST nobody was sent off.

On a day of little positives, the fact Alloa managed to end the match with the same number of players as they started with must surely be at least one positive to take from Saturday’s defeat to Clyde.

With the temperature dropping across the Wee County – and Sauchie Juniors’ game being postponed due to a frozen pitch – Alloa were the only show in town on Saturday, but couldn’t rise to the occasion as they were defeated 1-0 thanks to a sensational strike by the visitors’ Ally Love.

Alloa did have the majority of possession throughout the match and had enough decent chances to be in front before Clyde’s goal or at least win the match. The performance wasn’t terrible, however, there were boos heard around the stadium at full time.

Despite the words of manager Barry Ferguson after the match – when he said he struggled to recall his team being so dominant in a match – the fact is Alloa haven’t won a league match since October 30.

In the five matches since that victory over Airdrieonians, they have lost three and drawn two.

It’s hardly the form of promotion hopefuls.

However, the team are still in the play-off running and there’s plenty of football to be played but the fact is the team need to start winning matches.

Clyde came to the Indodrill on Saturday three points behind Alloa and a win for the Wasps would have seen them start to create a gap between them and the teams at the bottom end of the table.

Andy Graham retained his place in the centre of defence alongside the returning Mark Durnan who replaced Craig Howie. Fernandy Mendy, back from suspension, dropped to the bench.

The only other change from the previous matchday’s draw with East Fife was the reintroduction of Steven Boyd, who took Adam King’s starting spot.

From the opening minutes Alloa’s pressing was impressive with Boyd and Stefan Scougall repeatedly winning the ball back in the final third. Boyd’s instinctive eye for goal saw him rifle off the first shot of the match but it was well wide of the target.

If there’s one player in the Alloa team fans would want the ball to fall to, on current form it’s Euan Henderson. The man on loan from Hearts has been in terrific form of late and should have added to his tally on Saturday.

A great through ball by Mark Durnan found Boyd who played a cross low across the box. Despite the ball being behind Henderson, he was able to get a shot on target however it was weak and easily saved by former Wasp Neil Parry.

Another slick move saw Scougall get a shot on target. Graham’s clever pass found Scott Taggart’s run and he drilled the ball across goal. Henderson’s first touch laid the ball off for Scougall who fired at goal but the shot was blocked well by a Clyde body.

Other headers fell the way of Henderson and Durnan but they could not convert and the teams headed inside for the interval with the scores level.

After half time Alloa should have taken the lead. A wonderful move saw four players involved but Boyd couldn’t finish. Mouhamed Niang gave the ball to Durnan who passed into Boyd’s feet. The forward’s clever touch flicked the ball into the path of Jon Robertson on the left wing and his cross found Boyd on the edge of the six yard box.

Bouncing, all he had to do was put the ball either side of Parry and it would have been a goal however he hit it straight at the goalkeeper who blocked the shot.

Shortly after that chance a clever give and go between Niang and Boyd saw the Partick Thistle loanee drive into the box however his attempted cut back wasn’t met by an Alloa body.

The missed opportunity would prove costly. Clyde won back possession and looked to counter. Despite getting numbers back, David Goodwillie was able to hold the ball up and find Love who took one touch to settle the ball before smashing it past a helpless David Hutton and into the bottom corner.

Charlie Gilmour would try to recreate Love’s strike minutes later but once again Parry was able to push the ball wide.

With the clock ticking, Clyde fell deeper and deeper into their own half. Scougall would collect the ball on the half turn and strike a shot off the post however the majority of Alloa’s good play was let down by either a poor pass or finish.

Ferguson would be right in saying his team dominated the ball, however that counts for nothing when the other team score more goals.

A tough trip to league leaders Cove Rangers awaits the Wasps next. Not an easy job, but Alloa do seem to turn it on when facing the top teams. The bottom line is they need a win. Fast.

ALLOA: Hutton, Taggart, Graham, Durnan, Robertson, Niang, Gilmour, Cawley, Boyd (Sammon), Scougall, Henderson. UNUSED: Burt, Mendy, King, O’Donnell, Church, Armstrong