JIM GOODWIN was left regretting the concession of avoidable goals as his Alloa side were downed by Stranraer.

The Wasps rounded off a frustrating first quarter of the season with a loss at Stair Park, and the gaffer bemoaned the fact that his players weren't able to put their game plan into practice.

He admitted his team's form has been poor and took full responsibility for their results.

Goodwin told Advertiser Sport: "We are bitterly disappointed. There wasn't a great deal in the game, and we said at half time that the first goal was going to be huge.

"We are quite disappointed with the defending at times because we felt we could have done a lot better.

"The first goal is a great finish, but it's avoidable. He looked half a yard offside but we were a bit disjointed as a back four. We knew how they would play and we went out to deny them the space in behind, but we weren't able to do that.

"For whatever reason, we don't seem to be getting any breaks right now, but we'll keep going.

"It's a funny league; it's the kind where you could put two or three wins together and climb up the table.

"But our form hasn't been good enough and that's absolutely clear. I have got to take full responsibility."

Despite their poor start to the season, Goodwin is retaining faith in his players, but says they must do more to arrest their slide down the League One table.

He said: "I do believe that we have a good enough group to compete in this division. We are starting to get boys back from injury and when we have everyone fit, we have a fantastic squad.

"I look at the other squads in this division and I do think ours is right up there on paper. But it doesn't work like that, and at the minute we need to do more collectively.

"The only way we are going to turn the corner is by working hard during the week. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We have another tough game on Saturday so we will train hard, and hopefully our luck will change."

The manager admitted that to get back in the playoff hunt, his side will have to double their points tally from the first quarter, but he believes one victory will give them the confidence to turn their fortunes round.

Goodwin added: "This can't continue. We are sitting on nine points from nine games and I know it's not been good enough.

"We are going to have to double that total in the next quarter if we're going to have any aspirations of getting into the playoffs.

"I believe in the group, and I couldn't question anyone's character. We are lacking a bit of confidence just now, but I do believe we're just one result away from turning the corner."