Rice: 'Alloa will never settle for a draw'

A Luke Donnelly double either side of Kurtis Roberts' equaliser moved the Wasps into fourth in the league and Rice believes the victory was well earned.

He said: "I thought we started the game fantastically well, scored a goal and we were in total control and then Clyde broke up the park and scored and it spooked us. I was just happy to get to half time because we had lost our way a little bit.

"I changed the shape a wee bit in the second half, we had good control of the game, a couple of half chances but great credit to the boys, they kept going and going and going.

"I'm glad to see Luke Donnelly get the two goals. We're a threat at set plays. You need to put it into the box, you need to deliver properly. Delivery wasn't as good as it has been but I'm just delighted to get the three points.

"It's a well-earned three points, a hard fought three points but we kept going until the very end and I'm proud of the boys for that."

With Clyde on a long losing streak there was always the possibility that Saturday would be the day that ended but Rice was glad to see his players stick to their task.

He continued: "Of course it is [a possibility] and they've changed their manager, Danny [Lennon]'s lost his job and normally you get a reaction and I think you seen that from Clyde.

"They played well but my main concern is what we do.

"Like I say we kept going until the very end, we didn't settle for the draw. I'm not settling for draws, I've told them that before. Let's keep going and going and I think you seen a team going [until] the very end trying to get the win.

"I just want to win games. If you're going to lose [then] lose trying to win. Don't be scared to try and win a game of football and that's the message I try to give to them and if we lose the game then we lose it, at least we lose it having a go."

Rice spent time after the match talking to youngster Paul McLaren, who he substituted at the break.

Asked what he was saying to McLaren he said: "I took him off at half-time and I was just trying to explain why I took him off and what I was looking for from him. He done okay but he can do better. I was just trying to point out what I was actually looking for and he knows that himself.

"He's disappointed because he knows he's a better player than that but it's a big step up for this kid. I've every faith in him and he'll come good, he just needs a wee bit of experience. He got 45 minutes [and] he's away with a win bonus in his pocket so he's quite happy."

McLaren's replacement, Craig Howie, is recently back from an operation and Rice was glad he got more minutes.

"It's good to have him back," he said. "He had an injury in pre-season and he had to go and get an operation.

"He's had a couple of reserve games and he's come off the bench a few times so he's raring to go and he wants to get in the team and he's come on and done okay again."

Donnelly's double secured the three points and Rice is delighted with the impact he's having.

He said: "It's always great when your strikers are scoring goals. It's great when anybody's scoring goals but especially your strikers. He's been brought in to help us and he's certainly doing that.

"His second goal's a good goal, if you watch it it's good technique because that could easily get slashed any place. He's got good control over the ball. He's a good football player, we know that.

"I was actually thinking of taking him off because he looked a bit leggy and a bit tired…it shows you what I know."