KEVIN CAWLEY admitted Alloa were sluggish on Saturday but believes there were positives to take from the defeat.

Brian Rice suffered his first defeat as the Wasps were defeated by promotion hopefuls Airdrie.

Cawley, who has started Rice's first two games a right wing back, held his hands up and admitted Alloa couldn't get going.

He told Advertiser Sport: "We didn’t really start too great, couldn’t get going after the first 15 minutes and we had to change our shape due to that.

"It was a poor goal that we lost, just a long ball over the top, from our point of view it’s a poor goal. Then, the second goal, it’s a deflection, can’t do anything about that.

“In the first half we couldn’t really get our forward players on the ball," he added. "Last week [against Cove Rangers] we started really fast and I think we were a wee bit sluggish [on Saturday].

"In the second half, we’re chasing the game, they get the goal but we kept going so we need to try and take the positives out of it and take it into next week."

Alloa had chances in the first half, with Adam King and Euan Henderson both not making the most of good opportunities.

Cawley continued: “It would have been nice to get an equaliser going into half time and get the momentum going into the second half but it wasn’t to be.

"I think we lacked that cutting edge and bit of quality in the final third."

Alloa have played Cove Rangers and Airdrie in the last two weeks and now travel to Queen's Park this weekend.

Cawley continued: “We need to strive to try and get to where they teams are at the moment. The manager’s came in, he’s changed a few things and we need to try and buy into that.

"We’ve only been in for a couple of weeks so hopefully over the coming weeks we can work on more things and try to get ourselves up the league as far as we can.

"That’s all we can do is work hard, that’s all he [Rice] says we can do, come in, work hard, give it your all and as long as you do that your talent and your qualities will come through but I just thought we lacked a wee bit. There wasn’t much in the game, it was a bit scrappy."

Cawley's taken on a new role under Rice as a right wing back and the veteran is happy to play anywhere for Alloa.

He said: "I’ve played there a few times under Jim Goodwin and Peter Grant.

"The manager’s asked me to play there and see how it goes so I’ve started the first two games there.

"Obviously, we changed the shape early in the first half as we weren’t getting much joy out of it and that’s credit to Airdrie, they weren’t really letting us play.

"I’ll play anywhere, I’ve played in most positions in my time here at Alloa."

Time is running out but there are still eight games to play as the Wasps attempt a late promotion push.

"We always seem to do better in the games against the teams above us," Cawley continued. "And struggle against the teams round about us but we need to try and pick up points and take it game by game.

"Next game is Queen’s Park, just prepare for that and see where that takes us."