Diamonds suffer case of the Blues

McIntosh says team can move on from poor defeat

Sean McIntosh believes the next game can’t come quick enough as Airdrie look to put memories of Stranraer behind them.

The Diamonds offered up a disappointing display at Stair Park with a Grant Anderson double and Scott Agnew’s penalty handing the 10-man Blues the three points.

A strike from trialist Willis Furtado was little consolation for Airdrie as Stranraer – who had Scott Robertson red-carded – enjoyed a comfortable afternoon.

Defender McIntosh, who played on the right side of midfield in the absence of injured loanee Jake Hastie, admits the Diamonds were far from their best.He told the Advertiser: “When we were on the road back we knew we just hadn’t been up to it.

“We were poor all afternoon. We just couldn’t get going and even after the equaliser we were sloppy.

“We’ve got to put this kind of result behind us.”

He continued: “When you put in a performance like that the next game can’t come quickly enough. You want the chance to put it right.

“We had won the two games before Stranraer, so I don’t think it’s a question of if we can compete.

“There is quality in the dressing room, we all believe that. We just have to show it against East Fife.”

The New Broomfield men started brightly as Luke Watt’s shot forced Stranraer keeper Cameron Belford into a save and Liam Dick almost put the rebound into his own net.

Marc Fitzpatrick, who was once again leading the side in the absence of a head coach, felt that Dick had passed the ball back to his keeper.

A furious Fitzpatrick was then sent to the stand for an outburst at the referee.

Stranraer took the lead in 10 minutes when Anderson’s curling shot was just out of the reach of Rohan Ferguson.

Ryan Wallace nearly doubled the hosts lead seconds later but his bullet header was this time saved by Ferguson.

Furtado, playing his second game as a Diamonds trialist, levelled as he coolly slotted the ball past Belford after breaking through one-on-one.

A foul in the box by Scott Stewart on Wallace handed Stranraer a golden opportunity to get back in front – with Scott Agnew scoring the resulting penalty after 66 minutes.

Anderson got his second just two minutes later, with Airdrie’s defence looking shaky and giving the winger far too much space to pick his spot.

Airdrie looked like they had been handed a lifeline when Scott Robertson received a straight red for kicking Tom Fry but they couldn’t amount a comeback.

Stand-in boss and captain Fitzpatrick admitted he let the players down by being sent to the stands.

He said: “I thought it was a passback. I’ve used words I shouldn’t have and have been sent off.

“Management is a different experience altogether. It is a learning curve for myself.

“I’m not playing just now so I’m helping out where I can and enjoying it.”

He felt the home side were the better team on the day, adding: “I don’t think we deserved to win the game.

“At half-time we were probably lucky that it was only 1-0.

“The third goal kills us and it’s one we should have stopped.”