ALEX Rae has challenged his Saints troops to make Paisley a tough place to come to in future – after seeing his side end their wretched home form with a weekend win.

The Buddies came from a goal behind against Alloa on Saturday to finally end their eight-month long record without a league win in Paisley.

Rae’s side drew level in the 37th minute thanks to Keith Watson after Isacc Layne put the Wasps in front from the penalty spot.

And Calum Gallagher nodded Saints in front on the hour mark when the winger picked up a deflected shot from Lawrence Shankland.

At the death Stevie Mallan made it 3-1 with a fine individual effort.

It was St Mirren’s first win in the league at their Paisley home since May 2015, when they defeated Motherwell.

Now boss Rae has thrown down the gauntlet and told his side to make the most of home comforts.

He said: “Going forward we have to try to be a bit more resilient at home.

“Eight months without a league win at home is not acceptable. I’m pleased that’s put to bed now.

“We can now start to concentrate on getting more wins here.

"If we do that, along with the fans’ backing, it can make a difference.

“Everyone’s pleased that it’s gone now. If it continued and went to nine months, or 10 months, then it does become a serious problem.

“And if you really want to do anything going forward, then you have to try to sort the form out across the board, really.”

Rae reflected on Saturday’s fine victory but was bemused by referee Craig Charleston’s decision to award Alloa a ninth minute penalty.

Right-back Watson was adjudged to have handled possession in the box but Rae cast doubt over the penalty award.

He said: “The most important thing was the three points but we had to do it the hard way because, for the life of me, I can’t understand how that was a penalty.

“I don’t even know if he (Watson) was facing the ball when it hit his hand.

“There were a few contentious decisions.

"Their keeper took out our centre forward and the referee is saying it’s not a goalscoring opportunity. That baffles me because there were no defenders there when he got the ball.

“There were a few strange decisions.

“But we responded relatively well.

"Thankfully none of those decisions cost us."“And they started the second half a bit better. And that’s where the second goal came from.”