On title after Bala farewell

Irn-Bru Cup. Hibs took the lead through Alex Harris but goals from Stevie Mallan and sub David Clarkson left Easter Road stunned.

Lennon’s Hibees are now without a win in four and the gaffer’s patience has snapped.

He rapped: “Losing to St Mirren at home should not be happening.

“Some of the players are hiding at the minute.

“It is amateur stuff, nonsense. It must stop. It is coming from senior players doing things without a thought.”

St Mirren caretaker Allan McManus will now make way for new boss Jack Ross and, after Saints’ first win in nine games, said: “It should be a happier place now.” shot was blocked but Greig Spence reacted to smash the ball home from close range.

Alloa should have doubled their lead in 33 minutes when Iain Flannigan latched on to a short back-pass ahead of Stuart Jones to send Spence racing in on the advancing Bala keeper Ashley Morris.

The striker did well to get round him, but fluffed his effort.

The second goal did come two minutes before the break when Scott Taggart worked his way in from the right to pick out Jon Robertson on the edge of the box and he curled the ball into the top corner. Almost immediately Spence added Alloa’s third in first-half stoppage time, picking up a loose ball to smash home off the post from 25 yards.

Alloa went through the motions in the second half but they made things hard for themselves when Taggart conceded a penalty in 57 minutes which Lee Hunt converted.

But the Wasps hit back five minutes later. Kirkpatrick’s back heel allowed Kevin Cawley to run through and slot in for 4-1.

The hosts rallied again and got a second goal when Stuart J Jones headed home a late free-kick but the Wasps held out to give Ross a deserved parting-gift triumph.