Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Diamonds boss is delighted with run
Airdrie manager Ian Murray says his side showed their professionalism by dispatching League One basement club East Fife 2-0.
Calum Gallagher struck either side of half-time to keep the Diamonds second, moving them two points behind leaders Cove Rangers ahead of their match with Queen’s Park on Sunday.
Outside the opening quarter of the second half where Finlay Pollock hit the post for East Fife, Murray’s men were rarely troubled at Bayview.
They have yet to taste league defeat this year and their last loss came against Montrose on December 7, who they face again next Saturday.
Murray says the attacking side of his team is proving too hot to handle: “It was a professional performance.
“I think we controlled the majority of it and it went too end-to in some of the first half for my liking, and certainly did after half-time.
“But we are so good going forward right now. Every time we get the ball over the halfway line, we are moving at speed and finding little pockets of space.
“It’s brilliant. Full credit to the players, we came and did the job. That’s what we came here to do. I would have been nice to come and score loads of goals but we came and got the three points.
“At this stage of the season, nobody really cares how you score. The first one is actually a really good move. We win the ball in the middle of the park and moved things wide.
“Callum Smith managed to get it into the box and from there’ it’s a striker’s dream for Calum Gallagher. It was a really good move with a really good tempo to our counter-attack. It was great for the team and we can now get ready for Montrose.”
The 41-year-old enjoyed a fine playing career with the likes of Hibs and Rangers, but this run in North Lanarkshire ranks among his best.
He says it’s perhaps his lengthiest without a league loss but it’s a winning feeling which is helping spur that on.
Murray explained: “It’s probably the longest unbeaten run I have had as a player or a manager. It’s brilliant but we need to try and keep it going. We try not to think about it too much.
“Being at 16, it’s a great feeling. But winning the game on the weekend is that feeling. We now go to Montrose on Saturday trying to get that feeling again, making it 17.”
Rhys Mccabe has been a key player for the Diamonds this term but was missing from the matchday squad at Bayview.
Allaying fears, his boss added: “Rhys had a sickness bug. We expect him back in training next week and back in the squad against Montrose.
“But we have great depth in the squad. It’s a pleasure for me to look around and see who we have.”