BLUE Toon fans who didn't make the trip to Alloa on Saturday had plenty of cause for celebration when the BBC reported that their team had enjoyed a 2-1 victory of the league leaders.
Unfortunately, the Sunday papers revealed that Peterhead had actually suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Spiders, and their elation was short-lived as their team slumped to a lowly seventh place in the league with it all to do in what looks li
ke a busy March ahead.
Boss Neale Cooper had been inundated with congratulatory texts after the reporting mix-up, but knows that his side need to start getting back to winning ways - and soon - if they are to have any chance to reaching a play-off place at the end of the season.
"I wish it had been the case that we had defeated Alloa as it would have taken the pressure of a bit, but now we really do have to start winning games," said Cooper.
"It was difficult going down to Alloa on Saturday as they were lying at the top of the table and are a good side, but we started quite well and didn't let them walk all over us.
Neale Cooper's men were reduced to ten men on Saturday
"However, they then scored and we changed things around a bit with Paul Emslie coming on for Neil McVitie and we looked stronger again."
However, it a moment of madness Paul Emslie - who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes - found himself on the wrong end of a red card for what Cooper described as a soft tackle on an Alloa defender.
"It looked a soft challenge, but the referee said that he had kicked the lad when on the ground so he had to go. It made things difficult for us and we had to work that bit harder to try and keep them out.
"It was disappointing to go down to ten men but I felt the work rate was quite good but they got the killer goal at then end and that finished the game for us."
Cooper now heads into March facing two games each week as the league plays catch-up following the recent spell of bad weather.
"We have a couple of injury worries for tonight's game at home against Dumbarton. Davie Donald had to come off with a foot problem while Bobby Mann is still struggling a wee bit and both are doubtful," he said.
Turning to tonight's game, Cooper says his team now has to bounce back and get a vital three points.
"It's a must win game and the lads know that. Time is running out now and every game is vital for us," he said.
"March is a busy month and we just have to watch out for injuries and suspensions and make sure that we have the best team out there to get the job done.
"It's going to be tough for us, but everyone is in the same boat with the backlog of games so we just have to get on with it," he added.
