ANDY GRAHAM knows his side must improve in the wake of last Saturday's damaging defeat to Stranraer.

The skipper insisted that the squad are not panicking yet, despite taking only nine points from their opening nine league games.

However, he did admit that the players must take the blame for a disappointing start to the campaign.

Graham told Advertiser Sport: "We had a chat after the game and the boys know that it's just not good enough at the minute.

"I don't think there was anything in the game until the first goal but we all know that goals change games, and the goals we're conceding aren't good enough.

"It's not just an individual thing – collectively, we need to get behind each other and be brave. When you're down the bottom and things aren't going well you need to take some responsibility.

"There are still only nine games gone so we are not hitting the panic button just yet.

"We had a poor second quarter last season so there's every chance we could come out over the next few weeks and do really well.

"We've just got to start working hard again, starting this week in training.

"We want to be in the top half of the league at the very least and we have got to change things.

"The boys know that and we'll be going out on Saturday and making sure we respond in the right way.

"We are all pretty down but we want a game as soon as possible to put things right. We need to rally round each other now and make sure we do that."

Alloa return to the Indodrill Stadium on Saturday to take on East Fife, and Graham insisted it is a must-win game for his side, who lie eighth in the League One table.

He said: "We need three points on Saturday and I don't care how we do it. I don't care if we play well and I don't care if we play terribly.

"The only thing that matters is getting the three points and that's what we're focused on. The hardest thing in football is keeping a cool head when you're down the bottom. But we have to try and do that."

The defender made his comeback from a shoulder injury last Saturday after a month on the sidelines, and he thanked Alloa's medical team for helping him return to action so quickly.

Graham added: "It has been a very frustrating time. I probably shouldn't have played in the Forfar game, and I have maybe come back in a bit soon but with Frank injured the gaffer's hand was forced a bit.

"Thankfully I got through the game unscathed, and although the specialist, I just need to get on with it now.

"It's testament to the work of Gerry and Jordan, the physios, that I'm back because I was looking at eight weeks out, but I'm back playing after four."