Home form still troubles Diamonds

Airdrieonians ...1 East Fife ...1 Advertiser reporter There was frustration for Airdrieonians who had to come from behind to salvage a point at home to East Fife on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute when Kevin Smith got in behind Scott Stewart and headed home a deep cross from Mark Lamont.

But Iain Russell fired home a second-half equaliser from the spot after Jonathan Page had brought down Andy Ryan in the area.

Two points dropped

If Airdrie are to trouble the title favourites Alloa Athletic and Livingston then victories at home to the likes of East Fife need to be racked up.

That is not being disrespectful to the Methil side, who have made an impressive start to the season – just a simple fact.

After all, we know how costly poor form at home was for the Diamonds last season.

Penalty shout

The Diamonds scored one spot-kick but reckoned they should have had one earlier in the game when a Ryan Conroy cross struck the hand of a Fifers defender.

Referee Graham Beaton ignored the appeals.

Injury worry

Young midfielder Conor McLaughlin was back in the starting line-up but trooped off injured after just 21 minutes.

He took a bang just above the knee and will be monitored this week ahead of Saturday’s Monklands derby with Albion Rovers.

Managers’ views

Diamonds head coach Kevin McBride said:“I thought we were dominating the game at the start but once again we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

“We always know that we’re going to score goals but we need to stop the silly mistakes that we’re making at the other end of the pitch.”

Fifers player-manager Gary Naysmith said:“I think we deserved our point from the game.

“I thought we finished the stronger team and it wasn’t like we were hanging on at the end. I felt a draw was probably the right result.”

Stats a fact

AIRDRIE: Ferguson; Stewart, Boateng, Fitzpatrick, MacDonald*; Leitch; Brown (Scullion 82), McLaughlin (Schmidt 21), Conroy; Ryan, Russell. SUBS NOT USED: Kerr(gk), Gorman, Leighton, McIntosh, Daly. EAST FIFE: Hurst; Mercer, Kane, Page, Naysmith; Lamont (O’Hara 75), Brown, Wilkie, Slattery*; Smith (Wallace 76), Insall (McManus 83). SUBS NOT USED: Goodfellow(gk), Kerr. REFEREE: Graham Beaton. ATTENDANCE: 814. *booked

On the spot Iain Russell nets against East Fife on Saturday

Tumble Andy Ryan is felled by Jonathan Page