Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Findlay: We can win our last five matches
Airdrieonians.....1 Raith Rovers ......2 Colin Paterson Stephen Findlay insists Airdrieonians will look to finish the season with a flourish despite being stuck in League One’s No Man’s Land.
Goals from Lewis Vaughan and Jason Thomson earned title-chasing Raith Rovers a vital victory on Saturday at New Broomfield.
Scott Stewart pulled one back for Airdrie, who ended the game with 10 men after Luke Watt saw red.
The result leaves the Diamonds 12 points adrift of the top four and 10 clear of the relegation zone.
With just five matches remaining, it is almost certain that Airdrie will play League One football next season.
However, Findlay does not want the campaign to simply peter out and is aiming to get back to winning ways at struggling Queen’s Park this weekend.
He said:“We were caught out from two set-pieces in the first half but we asked for a response and they were terrific in the second half.
“It was very frustrating and very disappointing. We believe there is enough quality and belief in the team to win games at home.
“It’s now about picking up the last few points to make sure we don’t have to worry about relegation.
“The five games we have left are winnable for us.
“On our day when we are playing well, confident and moving the ball around the way we did in the second half against Raith, I think we’re capable of doing that.
“The players know that. What we have to do is take that second-half performance into the first-half performance next week and if we do that we will be absolutely fine.” ● The Diamonds threw away a two-goal lead against Alloa Athletic last Tuesday night.
Darryl Duffy and Dan Higgins had put Airdrie in front at New Broomfield before Garry Fleming pulled a goal back with a controversial penalty.
Fleming missed a second chance from the spot but Jordan Kilpatrick made it 2-2 and ensured the Wasps a share of the spoils.
Airdrie gaffer Findlay slammed referee Scott Millar for the penalty award right before the break which allowed Alloa to reduce the deficit.
He said:“I thought the penalty decision before half-time was really poor. The boy’s gone down and I thought it was beyond soft.”