'Sending off was a disgrace' - Alloa boss Peter Grant rues Hearts second goal and performance of referee Alan Muir

Alloa Athletic boss Peter Grant. Picture: SNS

The Wasps boss was also unimpressed with the performance of referee Alan Muir who sent off teenage defender Lucas Williamson.

Alloa fell behind to goals from Andy Irving and Elliott Frear in the first half.

Their hopes of getting something from the game seemed to evaporate when Williamson was shown a second yellow card for an incident involving debutant Gary Mackay-Steven.

But a Kevin Cawley header set up a tense finish before Hearts secured all three points through Josh Ginnelly’s breakaway goal.

“First half was more disappointing for us, the way we lost the goals," Grant said. “That was disappointing, especially the timing of the second goal, because I thought we were well in the game in the first half. Second half was a bit harder for us for a period.

“The sending off was a disgrace. I’ve become used to that. That’s not the excuse as to why we got beat but the sending off is a disgrace.

"I feel for the referee sometimes because linesman stand next to it and they don’t know what to do. He’s actually headered the ball and it hits Mackay-Steven in the face."

Grant had hoped to add players to his squad before the match with Hearts but the uncertainty brought on by the current climate had held up deals.

“The boys kept going,” he said. “Boys are playing that are not fully fit, that’s a bit of a problem for us and we lost a couple of others today through fitness which we knew was a possibility because they hadn't trained all week. We understand that’s where we are.

“The boys need help because they are all working or working from home. You’ve got two nights a week but all the things around about it, the periphery things, the panic that sets in waiting for testing to come in. it's completely different for us. Bare in mind our boys have jobs to go to as well so it is a double whammy for them.

“We knew we were going to be playing a good side, there’s no getting away from that but I’m just disappointed with the way we lost the goals.”