DUNFERMLINE 1 Kiltie (29) ALLOA ATHLETIC 2 Thomson (40), Trouten (54)

Dunfermline earned plenty of plaudits last month after taking holders Celtic to extra time in the League Cup, but that now seems a lifetime ago after the Pars suffered their fourth straight defeat and crashed out of the Challenge Cup on their home ground yesterday.

Worse still, they allowed Alloa to come from a goal down as the Wasps deservedly claimed their first victory at East End Park since 1976, courtesy of Alan Trouten’s sublime 54th-minute strike.

Loan signing Greg Keltie had earlier put the Fifers in front, but they then gifted the visitors a soft equaliser through striker Robert Thomson shortly before half-time.

“We’re chuffed,” smiled Wasps boss Peter Grant following a second away win in as many weeks for his team.

“We weren’t competitive at Arbroath a fortnight ago, but I’m really pleased with how we’ve played the last two weeks, both with and without the ball.

“We know we have players with the quality to win games for us, and Alan Trouten proved that again today.

“There’s no easy route in football, but we know that.

“The boys have been working their socks off in every game and they’re getting the rewards for that hard work now.”

Pars manager Stevie Crawford, whose side hasn’t won since July, admitted his side is struggling to put performances together during a poor run of form.

“We looked a bit edgy and nervous today, which sometimes happens after a few defeats,” said Crawford.

“We went ahead with a welltaken goal on the counter-attack, , but a poor mistake let Alloa back in the game before half-time.

“Alloa try to play football and we knew that, but we didn’t press them hard enough when we didn’t have possession.”

And Crawford called on his players to show some courage.

“We also have to be braver when we do have possession of the ball, so we need to work on that in training this week,” he added.

“I’m not singling out any individuals, but the quality of our final ball into the box just wasn’t good enough today.”