Raith Rovers failed to live up to their recent standards in Saturday’s defeat to Alloa, according to defender Paul Watson.
Rovers slumped to back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season as Andy Kirk’s 63rd-minute winner sealed the points for the Wasps in Paul Hartley’s 100th match in charge.
The goal was the home side’s only shot on target but Watson was honest enough to admit that Rovers did not do enough themselves to warrant a result.
He said: “We started the better side but after that, we didn’t play the way we can do and we didn’t deserve anything from the game.
“That’s the biggest disappointment because we’ve been doing so well.
“They never did much either they had one shot on target and scored. It was a slack one for us to concede but we’ll just have to go again next Saturday.
“It’s a test of character now for the boys but we’ll deal with that no problem at all and look to put things right next Saturday.”
Raith had the better of the early exchanges, with former Alloa striker Calum Elliot going close twice.
In the fourth minute, a mazy run into the box saw Elliot zigzag his way past three defenders but his near-post shot was grabbed by goalkeeper Scott Bain.
Two minutes later, Elliot capitalised on a defensive error to go through on goal but Bain was quick from his line to narrow the angle and deny the striker again.
There was a let-off for Raith in the 15th minute when Daryll Meggat was left unmarked from a corner but headed wide.
There was little goalmouth action until the home side cranked up the pressure at the start of the second half.
Kirk blazed over the bar from Graeme Holmes’ low cross in the 48th minute, then nine minutes later Stephen Simmons had time to turn and shoot in the box but could only find the side net.
The home side’s 63rd minute opener arrived when Rovers were on the attack.
Possession was lost deep in Alloa territory but a quick break saw Michael Doyle escape down the right wing and his low cross was touched into Kirk’s path by Ryan McCord.
With time and space to pick his spot from 12 yards, the ex-Dunfermline striker made no mistake, firing past the exposed Ross Laidlaw.
Rovers almost hit back immediately as Grant Anderson’s cutback found Joe Cardle but Bain managed to turn the winger’s shot behind for a corner.
The rest of the match was a tale of frustration as a hard-working Alloa side restricted Raith to very few opportunities.
Boss Grant Murray revealed afterwards that he warned his players at half-time about the importance of scoring the first goal.
“I told them it was that type of game where one goal was going to be decisive,” he said.
“It was important to get our noses in front but unfortunately for us it was Alloa who scored first.
“We’ve been on a fantastic run but it’s how we handle back-to-back defeats that is the most important thing now.”