“There’s been a few times this season when we’ve lost and results elsewhere have been kind to us and, even when we were not playing last night, the two draws were probably about the best results we could hope for,” said Alex.

“I was at Firhill and, although Thistle were looking to go to the top of the table and Clyde started just below us, Clyde probably had the better of the draw and might feel a wee bit unlucky they didn’t win.”

While he is continually watching what is going on elsewhere, Alex is first to admit the most good that can be done for his team is by themselves.

Accordingly, he is looking for a performance when bottom club Airdrie United visit on Saturday.

“It’s fine things going for you in other games, but there comes a point where you have to do it for yourself and that is the stage we are at.

“If we start winning again from Saturday, we can move back up the table and be challenging, and it’s up to us to do that.”

If Brian McGinty recovers from a groin strain, Alex will have close to a full squad to choose from and, after being unhappy with the overall showing at Queen of the South last Saturday, he is set to make changes.

Whichever way he shuffles his pack, he will warn the team to expect a determined performance from a side out to impress a new manager, he feels, will bring even more steel to the First Division.

“Their players will have a lift from Kenny Black taking charge for his first game and, knowing the way he went about his business as a player, they are not going to be easy to beat.”