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Manager Paul Hartley and midfielder Fraser Fyvie spoke to the media after our 3-0 cinch League One victory over Alloa Athletic at Balmoral Stadium.

Fraser scored twice, with Harry Milne also on target as we extended our unbeaten run in the league to 24 games and maintained our five point lead over second placed Airdrieonians, with two games left to play.

Paul said: “Winning was the most important thing.

“We kept stressing to the players over the last 24 games that we had to keep control of our own destiny.

“That meant taking it game by game and trying to keep winning and keep our focus as much as we can.

“It was good to see Fraser getting another couple of goals.

“We spoke about the role he was playing, as a No.10, he hadn’t really played that far forward before.

“It’s about encouraging him to get forward and play close to our main striker, which on this occasion was (Mitch) Megginson.

“You see the quality that Fraser has, he could have had a hat-trick and the goals he scored were sheer quality.

“Alloa had some good moments, especially in the first period of the game.

“We didn’t start particularly well, but we weathered the storm and gained more control as the game went on.

“We were terrific in the second half.

“We controlled it, with our pace and our professionalism.

“We are 34 games down now and if you had said to us at the start of the season we would get an opportunity to win the league with two games to go we would have taken it.

“We have been in absolutely terrific form since the East Fife game away in October.

“You have got to give Airdrie credit, they just keep going, but we can only control what we do.

“We don’t need to rely on anybody.

“The players are so focussed and they have got to be the same again next weekend against Dumbarton.

“It’s another tricky game and we can’t take anything for granted.

“We’ve just got to keep going and keep doing the things that we have done all season.”

Fraser’s double brought his tally of goals for the season to 13, eight of which have come in the league.

But he was quick to praise keeper Stuart McKenzie – who made some crucial saves on the way to recording his 18th league clean sheet – and his defenders for the vital contributions they made before Fraser managed to put us ahead early in the second half.

Fraser said: “I will probably get the plaudits because I scored the two goals, but it was a real team performance.

“Look at how well the guys at the back played – Scott Ross was immense, as were Morgyn (Neill) and Mark (Reynolds).

“Those three at the back kept us nice and solid until we took control of the game.

“Although they (Alloa) had half chances in the first half, you had to admire the bravery of our guys at the back to take the ball down and play it.

“The football we play starts from there, without that bravery we would have no chance of doing as well as we have so far.

“Stuart also played his part with a couple of saves at crucial times, but that’s something he has been doing all season.

“Reynolds got one off the line too and (Connor) Scully kept getting into good positions to make challenges to prevent them causing us too much problems.

“We are all fighting for each other and that’s the biggest thing.

“It doesn’t matter what end of the pitch, whether it’s keeping goals out or trying to score them, everyone is in there, happy to put their bodies on the line.”

Fraser admitted he was disappointed he didn’t get what would have been his first hat-trick for Cove. As well as scoring twice he hit the post with a shot and saw a net-bound header saved by the Alloa keeper.

Fraser said: “I was really unlucky with the one that hit the post but probably should have done better with the header.

“I’m enjoying being given a bit more freedom to go forward and make runs off whoever is playing up top.”

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