ALLOA manager Peter Grant bemoaned his side's lack of discipline as the Wasps were once again forced to finish a game with ten men.

Steven Hetherington was given his marching orders by referee Colin Steven in the 75th minute for a second booking, ending any hopes of a late comeback.

It means the Wee County side have doubled their red card count from last season already when only Zack Karadachki's dismissal blighted the copy book.

Hetherington's red came hot on the heels of Andy Graham's sending off in Greenock a fortnight ago, meaning Grant's threadbare squad will be stretched to its limits again this weekend.

Grant said: "I understand frustration from players at times because there are some decision that go on [which are frustrating].

"I mean for both teams and it's very difficult for referees because you've got guys in the stand who are marking you down if you don't give everything.

"It's a very difficult game and it's one that I wouldn't like to do, but it becomes a frustration when you are trying to play the game quick and the other team is stopping the game.

"Players are like supporters and you end up getting frustrated with it.

"I said to Stevie that the big thing I spoke about was not wanting to be an Alloa team who picks up four or five bookings for their mouth. I want to be a team that competes, but not for bookings as it puts you in a situation where you are missing players.

"We haven't got a big squad, but we can't lose good players. We were without our captain on Saturday and will now be without Stevie who has been excellent for us so far.

"The discipline has to be right and while I understand their frustration I also have sympathy for the referees too."

Alloa's long unbeaten record against Arbroath came to a stuttering end as the Wasps were simply outclassed by the Angus side.

It was the first time Dick Campbell's boys had tasted victory in 90 minutes over the Wee County outfit since Paul Hartley oversaw a defeat in February 2013 and Grant conceded his players had let themselves down with a disappointing showing.

"Arbroath came and did their job well and we have to give them credit for that," the 53-year-old said. "We know we are much better than that.

"Once you lose the goal you give Arbroath something to hang onto and the game was too bitty. We turned the ball over too many times under no pressure.

"Sometimes you get that and you get caught up in the lull in the atmosphere round about you and to lose the goal the way we did from our throw-in has happened too often in the last few weeks.

"We lost the goal and then we stopped trusting ourselves. We are a team that plays quickly but we were taking too many touches."

Before the game, Grant had a big call to make following Kevin Cawley's concussion away to Morton.

The midfielder only returned to training 48 hours before the Arbroath clash and the boss later suggested he had been too quick to rush him back.

Grant said: "Kevin Cawley has been outstanding for us, but was maybe taking that extra touch and I've got to realise that he only came back to training on Thursday after the Morton situation.

"He's a big player in the way he plays for us, but taking that extra touch allowed the opposition to get into the game."