MORTON manager Ray McKinnon insists he won’t underestimate Alloa Athletic.

The Ton head to the Indodrill Stadium later today to take on the Wasps in their first away trip of the Championship season.

Alloa fell just short against Ross County last Saturday, conceding a late goal to lose 1-0 in Dingwall in the league opener.

Many supporters and bookies across the country have picked Jim Goodwin’s side — the only part-time team in the division — to finish bottom of the league this season. 

But McKinnon says it would be foolish to underestimate the Championship newcomers.

He told the Tele: “It’s going to be a very tough game. Jim has them very organised as you’ve seen in the away game. They lost a late goal away to Ross County, they had chances and it’s a very dangerous game for us.

“Alloa have come up with people expecting them to be a team that’s easy to beat, but I don’t see it that way.

“Football players have never been so fit, nobody carries unfit players these days and the same goes for the part-time players.

“I think they’re going to be a very strong side, and they’ve proven that in all the games up until now.”

Athletic finished third last season, beating Raith Rovers and then Dumbarton in the play-offs to secure their place in Scottish football’s second tier. They have also strengthened their squad significantly over the summer, particularly in the forward area of the park. Greig Spence has rejoined the club for a fourth spell after leaving Raith Rovers in the summer, having netted 13 times last season for the Stark’s Park outfit.

Another forward the Wasps have signed is Alan Trouten, who was once at the Ton but failed to make a first team appearance, and he scored 28 goals last season for Albion 
Rovers.

The 32-year-old also played under McKinnon at Brechin City, and the Ton manager is fully aware of the threat Alloa have in front of goal.

He added: “They’ll be a major threat and I know most of their players. Alan Trouten I had previously at Brechin scored 28 goals in the league below, just one short of Lawrence Shankland.”

The Indodrill Stadium surface is artificial and over the summer Alloa have reduced the size of the pitch, making it nine metres narrower than last season, just meeting the minimum width required in the laws of the game.

Wasps chairman Mike Mulraney says the team will take every advantage they can to give his side the best chance at home.

While manager McKinnon believes training on Parklea’s artificial surface may help them out slightly, he says it’s an unknown quantity for him and some of his players.

He said: “We need to be at our best. 

“They’ve tightened their park down there, it’s an Astro Turf, it’s an extremely tough game for us. 

“Playing at Parklea will help us, but all Astro Turfs are different, and I’ve not been on Alloa’s for a few years so I’m not sure if it’s any different from back then.”