PETER GRANT rubbished talk of Alloa's league position as he once again was left to curse a crucial decision against his side.

The Wasps' diligent display at the league leaders threatened to cause another upset when Mark Reynolds inadvertently nodded beyond his own goalkeeper.

Alloa defended stubbornly against wave after wave of United attack and had Jamie MacDonald to thank for a string of fine saves.

But, goals from Nicky Clark and Louis Appere turned the game on its head as the Wasps fell to the bottom of the table for the first time since October as relegation rivals Partick Thistle scored late to beat Queen of the South.

Grant rightly felt aggrieved by a missed pull on Scott Taggart's jersey in the build-up to the second goal and bullishly dismissed talk of being bottom of the table.

"At the end of the day, [being bottom] means nothing until the end of the season and I am not interested in what the league table says," he told Advertiser Sport.

"You have got to win games of football or you end up at the bottom of the table and we are not winning games of football.

"I know we have got the players who are capable of getting us out of it, but we have to be more diligent.

"If you're watching a game for the first time and you hear Dundee United fans whistling for the full-time whistle I think that tells you enough.

"But, losing the goal the way we did with the ball inside the full back shouldn't happen.

"But, how can Scott Taggart, who was five yards in front, end up five yards behind Appere? There's only one way and it's because he pulls him back.

"We are not Dundee United or one of the big clubs but we deserve the same decisions which have to go for us."

The Wasps held off United until the last seconds of the first-half with Andy Graham, Robbie Deas, and the whole midfield working their socks off to match the champions elect.

"You have got to dig in when you come to Tannadice and that has never changed even since I was a player," Grant, 54, said.

"You are going to be up against a fast start with the way Dundee United play but we did give too many set-plays away and were under the cosh a bit.

"Jamie [MacDonald] did exceptionally well from long distance shots and the boys did well to block, which is part of the job.

"But, to lose the goal the way we did just on half-time was really disappointing as we were in possession of the ball and should have just gone back and started again."

With games against the likes of Ayr United, Greenock Morton, and Partick Thistle to come over the next month, Grant knows it is crucial Alloa start winning games sooner rather than later.

He said: "They boys have got to take credit for the way they played and in the two games against United we have matched them.

"The bottom line is we've got to learn how to win as that's the key for football matches."