Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Russell’s treble means Diamond day for son
A bizarre game, in parts, but Airdrieonians fans will prefer to focus on a fine win and plenty of good football.
Saturday’s League One clash at New Broomfield featured penalties – all of them converted.
Iain Russell hit a hat-trick of them with Scott Stewart also on target for the Diamonds who had Kevin Schmidt sent-off near the end.
Queen’s Park were poor although had earlier made it 1-1 when Ross Millen netted a penalty.
Back on track
The Diamonds needed this victory. A defeat would have been too much for many to take following last weekend’s 3-1 reversal at home to Peterhead.
Attacking intent
There will be those who point to the fact that three of Airdrie’s goals came from penalties – but these awards were as a result of exciting, attacking play.
In particular, striker Andy Ryan was too hot for the Spiders defence to handle. Middle to front, the Diamonds were great.
Trebles all round
It’s not been the easiest of starts to life at Airdrie for Russell but the hitman with strong connections to the club showed what he can offer – he was clinical from the spot.
Viewing points
Watching on from the main stand was Gordon Dalziel – at the end of week one of his football review.
Managers’ views
Diamonds head coach Kevin McBride said:“We get the penalties from creating. We had a number of other chances and the main thing was the boys putting on a performance.
“Iain is very confident when he is hitting a penalty. He is a fantastic player and it’s great that we got him to the club.”
Spiders boss Gus MacPherson said:“We’re very disappointed. We made some poor decisions defensively and they punished us.
“I don’t know if I have ever been involved in a game when three penalties have been awarded against you. If you lose goals, you lose games.”
Stats a fact
AIRDRIE: Ferguson; Stewart, Boateng, Gorman, MacDonald; Conroy, Leitch (McLaughlin 85), Fiztpatrick; Russell (Schmidt** 81), Ryan (Scullion 81), Brown. SUBS NOT USED: Kerr(gk), McIntosh, Truesdale, Cairns. QUEEN’S PARK: Muir; McGeever*, Fotheringham, Cummins; Millen, Miller, Brown (Watt 57), McLeish (Brady 65); Woods; Malone, Zanatta. SUBS NOT USED: McGorry(gk), Wharton, Gibson, McVey, Mortimer. REF: Greg Aitken. ATT: 702. *booked **sent-off
Iain Russell admits his first Airdrieonians hat-trick was a family affair.
The Diamonds star enjoyed a moment to savour on Saturday in his side’s 4-1 victory at home to Queen’s Park.
Russell bagged a treble from the spot to claim the match ball.
But the 33-year-old didn’t receive the man- of- the- match award which was presented to fellow scorer Scott Stewart.
Russell joked that he wouldn’t have deserved the accolade anyway.
And he was content enough with his goals haul while son Alfie and his parents looked on proudly from the main stand.
“I’m delighted,” he said. “To score a hat-trick for Airdrie at New Broomfield is absolutely brilliant.
“I wasn’t too sure about the second penalty as I’d already hit one so I was thinking of letting wee Chucky (Andy Ryan) hit it. But when the third one came along I was always going to hit it.
“It was just a question of which side I was going to put it.
“I just wanted run over and see my wee boy Alfie, mum and dad in the crowd so it was a nice wee moment.
“It has been a difficult month or two with sending- offs and frustration at not winning.
“I didn’t deserve man-of-thematch. But to get the match ball for my wee boy is great.”
Airdrie moved up to fifth in the League One table after sinking the Spiders at the end of a turbulent week at the club.
Football advisor Gordon Dalziel checked in to start his role but stayed in the background while Kevin McBride and No 2 Donald Jennow ran the show.
Russell said: “Kevin is a players’ manager. He never criticises.
“Gordon has come in and has not been hands-on at the moment but gave us a few pointers. We are a new team. There are not a lot of boys who have played a lot of senior games.
“People can underestimate this league – there are some good teams and we’re going to get that level of consistency week to week.”
The Diamonds head to East Fife this weekend and Russell is desperate for more points.
“It should be about backing up the result and it would be nice to get a couple of wins together,” the former Livingston and Queen of the South star added.
“The league is so tight and all the teams are on the same level.
“Nobody pulling away has probably helped us as we’ve been the most inconsistent team.
“On our day, we are a good side. We just need to be positive.”