A RIVALRY RENEWED Fizz in the IRN-BRU Cup as Diamonds head to Ayr

Kevin McBride has told his Diamonds to play the game and not the occasion in Sunday’s Somerset Park showdown.

Ai rd r i e o n i a n s t r av e l to Championship Ayr United for a thirdround clash in the IRN-BRU Cup.

There is little love lost between both sets of supporters off the park.

And tempers have flared in recent years on the park with games marred by a flurry of red cards.

The Honest Men — bossed by exAirdrie gaffer Ian McCall — will be favourites to make it to round four.

But Diamonds head coach McBride is targeting a victory to boost belief and confidence in his ranks.

He said: “We know that it is going to be a tough game down there.

“Ayr are a league above us now. They’re a very strong side now and guys like Gary Harkins show the quality that we are up against.

“We’re a very young side but hopefully we can go there and put on a performance and get a win.

“I think it is great for both sets of fans that there is a bit of rivalry.

“But on the playing side of things, the rivalry doesn’t really matter. “You can’t get caught up in it. “You can’t play the occasion – you have to play the game.

“The main thing is to go down there and try to get into the next round.”

McBride added: “It would give us a bit of belief if we were to win.

“But it would give any team a boost if you beat a team from a higher division in the cup.”

There was frustration for Airdrie at the weekend when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Stenhousemuir.

Diamonds led going into the final minutes until Fraser Kerr salvaged a share of the spoils for the Warriors.

“We made a few chances but never took them,” reflected McBride.

“Last year we lost in the last minute – that’s when the mental side comes in.

“We’re a very young side with a lot of young boys on the bench as well. A wee bit of progress has to be made.”

Going for victory Airdrieonians head coach Kevin McBride