IT is, of course, no longer a question of "if" Queen of the South win the Irn-Bru Second Division title.
Students of the game – and of arithmetic – are more concerned with "when" they confirm their return to the First Division.
It could be as soon as Wednesday night, when victory in the rescheduled match against Brechin City at Forfar's Station Park would give them an unassailable lead.
On the other hand, a draw in midweek, followed by another against the same opponents at Palmerston on Saturday would be sufficient to clinch the title. Either way, it looks as if the Dumfries side will have secured silverware before the end of March.
Ryan McGuffie, who clinched Saturday's win with a late penalty, is relishing this week's double-header against in-form Brechin. "We want to win the title as soon as we can and this win takes our unbeaten run to 15 games, since we lost to Alloa in December," said the 32-year-old former Gretna and Morton man.
The Dumfries club have 76 points and are on target to beat Gretna's Second Division record of 88 in 2006 and McGuffie sees similarities between the sides.
"That was a great Gretna team to play in and I get the same feeling of confidence from this Queens side.
"Allan Johnston and Sandy Clark take a lot of credit for their coaching methods and for getting us to enjoy training," the midfielder added.
Johnston gives the impression he will not let his men ease up. He said: "We want to clinch the title as soon as we can and keep winning to take confidence into next season's First Division campaign."
Alloa caused problems in the first half with Kevin Cawley twice going close with good efforts. However, the visitors went ahead just before the break with a rehearsed free kick, Nicky Clark shooting home from Chris Mitchell's pass.
Cawley headed the equaliser from Ben Gordon's precise cross after 56 minutes before Calum Elliot smashed the ball off Lee Robinson's bar with eight minutes left.
However, the winner came five minutes from time, with McGuffie converting a penalty after Darryll Meggatt had tripped Derek Young.
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