Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
The concern... we’ve just got to be consistent
Airdrie boss Fitzpatrick refuses to push relegation panic button
Mark Pirie
Airdrieonians assistant manager Marc Fitzpatrick insists there is no need for panic at the Diamonds as the battle to stay out of the relegation run-in heats up.
It has been a whirlwind season for the New Broomfield outfit this term between financial woes, ownership changes, and a management and playing staff overhaul.
Seen as favourites for the drop by many pundits at the start of the season, the long-touted message by the New Broomfield hierarchy – along with manager Stephen Findlay and Fitzpatrick – has been to avoid being dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Last season, it took 42 points for Albion Rovers to avoid the dreaded play-off spot – and Fitzpatrick is keen to string together a run of results to pull away front he drop zone as they prepare to welcome title-hopefuls Raith on Saturday.
“You don’t like to talk about needing to get a result or a win - but it’s getting to that stage of the season,” he told the Advertiser.
“We have a gap over the teams below us just now, and we want to make it that bit bigger.
“Over the next three or four games it will tell us a lot about where we are going to finish – so we need to pick up some wins in that run-in.”
The ex-skipper continued: “It’s definitely a tight league, I’ve seen that in my time at here.
“You see a lot of clubs - full-time teams – coming down and they get shocked. Every weekend it seems like there is a shock result.
“For us, we have to have a level of consistency despite the level we are at. We will take one game at a time but we have to make sure that we are safe.
“Our away form has been poor but we have played well at home – I don’t think there is any chance of us jumping to panic stations.”
Despite the threat of a tense end to the season, Fitzpatrick believes their performances have merited more points than they currently sit with.
“It’s frustrating that there have been a few games in which we have conceded a late goal, but we are pleased with how we have been playing.
“With games like against East Fife, it’s not like they have been all over the top of us.
“We created a lot, but need to take our clear-cut chances.
“We’re in the final 10 games of the season, so we need to get a wee run together and not let the heads drop.
“We are playing well enough and should be winning more games and have more points on the board.”