BARRY FERGUSON says he knows what happens to managers when their team isn’t winning and says every game is now a must win.

Clyde’s 2-1 defeat of Alloa means it’s now 10 league games without a win for the Wasps and the manager knows he's fighting for his job.

Speaking exclusively to Advertiser Sport after Saturday's game, Ferguson said: “First half not good enough. Second half you see the difference, we dominate the full second half.

“We just couldn’t score, so, disappointed. I gave them a rollicking at half time because we had a game plan going into the game and we executed that game plan in the second half; get the ball forward really quickly, get the fullbacks high and wide.

“Overall I’m disappointed. I said to them in there [after the match] it was like Jekyll and Hyde: first half poor, second half that’s what I want to see. The only disappointing thing was we got the goal in the dying minutes.”

Asked if there’s a reason the players aren’t sticking to the game plan like in the first half, Ferguson said: “That’s why I’m late [coming out], I asked them. Clearly you see what happened in the second half, that’s what I asked them to do in the first half and they didn’t do it.

“The 10 minutes at half time was pretty loud and they got told that they need to go out there and show me what we worked on on Thursday night.

“It’s frustrating, it’s really frustrating. Second half I’m happy with the performance but overall it’s a defeat.

“We work on it, and I’m part of it, so I’m saying in there, “do you get enough information?” and they know their roles and responsibilities.

"The first half they never done it but the second half is too late for me. They’ve got to do it from minute one and if you start the game in the right manner then you’ve got a better opportunity of winning the game.

"I’m not going to hide away from the fact it wasn’t good enough.”

On new recruit Blaise Riley-Snow, Ferguson added: “He done really well, he’s not had a lot of football, he tired a bit towards the end but he’s a good player, he’s quite powerful. It’ll take him a game or two to get up to speed but I thought he done well for his debut.”

Pressed for an update on the possible return of Euan Henderson, Ferguson said: “I’m trying. Honestly, I’m trying and it’ll come to a point where if it’s not Euan Henderson it needs to be someone else because we’re short up top.

“We’ve only got Conor Sammon as an out and out striker, Ben Armour’s just been out all season, Trouts [Alan Trouten] is injured again. He’s got a problem with his thigh, which is not ideal.

“If I can’t get Euan Henderson at the start of the week I’ll need to look elsewhere because we need another player up top and we need another one or two because one or two need to go.”

Alloa’s winless league run now stretches back three months and Ferguson admitted he’s worried for his position.

“Of course, I’m very honest,” he continued. “There’s too many draws in that 10 without a win.

"I’m not going to sugar coat it, I’m not daft enough, I’ve been in the game long enough to know I need to start winning games of football soon or you know what happens: you lose your job.”

Ferguson continued: “I’m not going to use excuses in terms of Covid and injuries but you see Robbo [Jon Robertson]. It looks as though he’s going to be out for a number of weeks.

“We’ve not had a full squad to pick from with Covid and injuries, but I’m not going to use that excuse. I know results haven’t been good enough. I’ll take that, I’m the manager and I’ll have to deal with the consequences of what happens.”

Once again the travelling fans voiced their anger at the performance and the manager asked for the fans to get behind the team during the game.

He said: “I understand the frustration that comes from the stand but some of the stuff is personal, I’ve said that before.

“I understand, there’s nobody more frustrated than me, my staff and my group of players but I want them to get behind the team for 90 minutes and if they’re unhappy after the game then I’m big enough and ugly enough to take it.

“I just think some of the stuff has been personal but I totally understand them. They pay good money. I’m a football fan myself, if I wasn’t a manager or in the game I’d be paying to go and watch all different teams so I understand the frustration.

"The boys know that as well...They’re sitting there absolutely gutted. I’m the same but the only way you can get out of it is working harder and trying to get a few new faces in to help them.

“Every game is a must win now. To be honest, we’re battling now, we’re in a battle. It’s not went the way I wanted it to go.

"We need wins. We need to start winning as soon as possible, there’s no doubt about it.”