Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs has slammed the performance of both his players and the officials after Michael Duffy’s controversial strike gave Alloa their first home win of the season.
On loan Celtic forward Duffy’s effort just before the break was ruled to have crossed the line after coming down off the underside of Mark Oxley’s cross bar.
Hibs created a series of half chances either side of the interval but failed to prevent a fifth league loss from seven outings.
Stubbs, whose team are now six points adrift of second place Falkirk ahead of Tuesday’s crunch visit of the Bairns, said: “The performance was disappointing. We didn’t play well and we didn’t do the basics, and that’s control and pass it.
“We also seemed really affected by the pitch, we looked uncomfortable with it.
“There is obviously a slight worry, I don’t want to see my team play the way they were today. But I know that football can change very quickly as well.
“It is a good thing to have Tuesday’s game so quickly after this. There are not a lot of things to speak about positively. I’ll be looking for the players to respond.”
Speaking about the goal, which appeared to be given by assistant referee Thomas Shaw and not referee Bobby Madden, Stubbs added: “I’ve seen replays of it and it’s inconclusive, so how he can come to that decision in that short space of time, here’s me talking about another decision and I don’t want to be.
“It’s another decision that’s gone against us. We’ve had a few recently and they’ve led to goals.
“He can’t be guaranteed with the speed of which he hits it and it bounces that he can say it was a goal.”
Alloa manager Jack Ross, whose side had their relegation confirmed last weekend, said: “I didn’t think it had been given just because of the way things have gone for us this season.
“It could have been five yards this side and I couldn’t care. I think we’ve deserved, the players have deserved it and Michael Duffy in particular has deserved it.
“I’m delighted for the players. That’s how we’ve played in the main over in the last three or four months but the little things probably fell for us and that’s the fine margins you need.
“They’re going out this league taking another scalp. Hibs are a huge club full of internationals and with aspirations of winning a major trophy and getting back to the Premiership.”
