BRIAN RICE was delighted to see his team record successive victories at the weekend as he complimented his side for their work ethic.

Alloa made it two league victories in a row for just the second time this season – the first under Rice – with Saturday's demolition of East Fife.

Rice said: "I'm delighted with the clean sheet. I thought we dominated in large spells of the game, it was just our final ball in the first half that stopped us being ahead.

"I just said to them at half time: 'Keep doing what you're doing, but take care with the last thing you do with the ball'. I don't think anyone could complain that we didn't deserve the three points."

Rice could be seen telling his players to calm down in the first half, but said their lack of composure wasn't a worry.

"It didn't worry me," he continued. "It's [the players'] job to get the ball down and pass it. I just felt as though we were hooking things on, maybe should have been taking an extra touch and try to play the way we want to play because when we get it down and pass it we're a good team."

Rice was thrilled with his entire team's performances as he enjoyed another clean sheet.

He continued: "The full team, another clean sheet. Two clean sheets in two games. If you get clean sheets you only need one goal to win. It's great for the young goalkeeper [PJ Morrison] coming in, two clean sheets for him, but as a team we're working hard to defend, strikers are working hard as well and we got our just rewards.

"To come away from home, keep a clean sheet, score three goals and win the match is something you want to do every away game but you're not going to do it every away game.

"The players are working really, really hard. Not just on a Saturday but through the week, taking on board what I'm trying to implement and I think everyone's enjoying it because we're working hard, everybody's working hard.

"The boys that aren't playing, same with them. They're working hard, they're ready to go if they're called upon. We enjoy the result today, and then we look forward to next week."

Rice has stressed the importance of the remaining fixtures to his players and is sticking to his mantra of the next game is the most important.

He said: "We won today, we'll see if we can win next week. Once today's passed then it's on to next week. It's game by game, always game by game.

"There's five cup finals left, I told them today there's six cup finals. That's one out the way, the next one's the most important now."

A worry for Rice will be Scott Taggart, who walked off the pitch late in the match with an injury.

Pressed for an update, Rice said: "I'm not too sure, he's took a wee injury there. Knowing Taggs I think he'll be okay, I hope so."

With three different players on the scoresheet, Ross MacIver is still waiting for his first goal, but Rice is more than happy with his contribution so far.

He said: "He's worked really hard for the team, that's why I brought him in.

"He's a good player, he's biding his time. He's coming off the bench, making an impact and that's what you need from your subs coming off the bench.

"Ross will be invaluable between now and the end of the season."