Airdrie need time to get it right as a team

QUEEN’S PARK ..................................... 0 AIRDRIE .................................................. 0 Airdrie win 4-3 on pens

Delighted Ian Murray hailed his “fantastic” Airdrie side’s Premier Sports Cup penalty shoot-out win over Queen’s Park, but admitted his side are still taking time to gel together.

The Diamonds drew 0-0 with last season’s League Two champions at their temporary Firhill home, before beating them 4-3 on penalties to take the extra point.

That leaves Airdrie in contention to qualify from Group F, ahead of a massive

Lanarkshire derby against Motherwell tonight (Wednesday).

Murray admits that his players are still getting to know each other but he was delighted with their effort and he reserved special praise for Jordan Allan and Matthew Mcdonald.

“Yeah, I think so,” Murray said when asked if Airdrie are improving.

“It’s going to be very gradual and there is still loads that we need to work on – I said that to the players after the game.

“As fantastic as we were in terms of our work rate, endeavour and effort, we were running on empty towards the end of the game and I couldn’t freshen it up.”

Murray says his side are still a bit short on numbers, and hopes to add further, but says his players did well to see the game out.

“We can always improve quality wise, even after winning a game, but in terms of putting down fundamentals in terms of the team and squad, I felt it was a huge step.

“Rhys Mccabe picked up an injury yesterday so we had to reshuffle the pack and we put Jordan in there to try and bring some energy to the midfield area.

“It worked well in the first half but it flagged a bit in the second due to the conditions that we are in.

“For Matthew’s second game in a competitive environment, I felt he was excellent.

“You wouldn’t have known that he only played his second ninety minutes today – I’m delighted with him.

“I’m really happy with how Jordan adapted to playing in midfield as a striker.

“It’s not ideal, it’s not something that we intended to do but our hands were forced a bit.”

Airdrie end their group stages campaign at Championship side Queen of the South, who signed former Diamonds striker Ally Roy in the summer.

Taking aim Calum Gallagher ‘scored’ but it was ruled out (Pic by John Steven)