ANDY PLACE FOR RIVALS
ANDY GRAHAM admits home is where the hurt is for Alloa after insisting away teams LOVE playing at Recreation Park.
However, the veteran defender insists two wins in four days can change all that – and kick-start their title charge.
The Wasps have not won on their own patch since November 5, a malaise that has played a major role in Livingston building a 12-point lead at the summit.
Jim Goodwin has tasted victory on home soil just once since replacing Jack Ross in the dugout way back in October.
Graham is aware it is a source of annoyance for Goodwin’s men and he reckons that, amid the deteriorating pitches of Scottish football in winter, teams are playing out of their skin on Alloa’s new 4G artificial surface.
He said: “It’s frustrating, especially since there have been a good few of those matches where we have played well and not got what we deserved.
“But the results don’t lie. We’ve only won three league games at home all season – it’s just not good enough.
“One factor is that teams enjoy coming to Alloa. Compared to the pitches we have played on in recent weeks, it is the best surface by miles.
“Opponents come here and relish playing on it. It’s a fresh, modern 4G and it’s almost a treat for teams that come here.
“However, we should be good enough to respond to that.”
With play-off rivals Airdrie the visitors this afternoon, Alloa are seeking to build on last weekend’s 2-0 triumph at Queen’s Park which saw them make history.
Greig Spence’s strike to break the deadlock was the 8000th in the SPFL, ensuring a place in trivia books for years to come.
And Graham said: “He’ll be delighted with that, a wee place in the history books. It was a vital goal. Not many teams will go to Queen’s Park and come away with three points.”