Diamonds fail to shine against 10-man Pars

Aug 27 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

WHEN the obituaries of this season are written next May, the decisions of the men in the middle will warrant an entire chapter of their own.

Not a week has passed since the opening of the campaign without managers and players storming from the dressing-room and lambasting a referee and controversial calls made.

At East End Park on Saturday, it was Dunfermline’s turn to see red, with Airdrie the grateful benefactors. Craig Charleston can make room on his mantlepiece for there will be no Christmas card from the Pars this winter.

By the time he commandeered the spotlight he had already infuriated a frustrated home support with a series of decisions that went against them.

But he appeared to surpass himself in the 54th minute of a contest the Pars dominated for large chunks, yet Airdrie emerged with another precious point.

Midfielder Nicky Phinn burst into the box after the Diamonds rearguard switched off and looked certain to inflict monumental damage before ’keeper Stephen Robertson brought him down.

When Mr Charleston walked towards the penalty spot, the travelling support held their collective breath until he reached for his pocket - and showed the young Par a second yellow card followed swiftly by a red.

It looked a stonewall spot-kick and Robertson and the Diamonds can count themselves very fortunate.

“It looked a penalty from where I was but I’ll have another look at it,” was Airdrie boss Kenny Black’s assessment of a decision that should have turned the game on its head.

That it didn’t was largely down to the Diamonds’ inability to cause problems in the final third of the pitch. It’s now over 360 minutes of First Division football without a goal scored.

Black had more things on his mind than the referee’s performance. He pulled no punches in his post-match briefing and insisted he had watched his side turn in their worst display of the season.

“We were totally outplayed at times,” he said. “There was an inability to pass the ball from A to B and we failed to cause them problems, even when they were reduced to 10 men.

“It was our worst performance of the season. Normally I would be happy to come to East End Park and pick up a point and a clean sheet but I think that just papers over the cracks.”

While this is another impressive result - Airdrie have taken a point and not conceded a goal in matches with three of last season’s top five in the First Division - there is obvious concern when it comes to the team’s attacking play.

The two main issues appear to be confidence and belief and it looks as if several stars are lacking in both. In and around the opposition area, there needs to be more invention, energy and desire. Airdrie never looked like scoring in this game.

“It’s not just the strikers, everyone has to chip in. We all need to show more responsibility in the final third of the pitch to try and create more,” said Black, who admitted time is running out for some players.

The displays of Steven McDougall and Joe Cardle will be dominating conversations among Diamonds fans. Both are talented footballers but, for the moment, just aren’t delivering during the heat of battle.

Up front, Simon Lynch is a willing runner and gives clever lay-offs but seems to lack the physical strength offered by Stuart Noble when up against rugged central defenders.

More urgency in the midfield area wouldn’t go amiss either. Too often, passes are played to the side or backwards.

But coupled with the negatives, there are hopeful signs and shipping just one goal from four games is a statistic that has helped Airdrie into a healthy seventh position.

“I’d rather we won 3-2 every week than drew 0-0 but it is good that we are keeping things tight at the back,” said rookie defender Bobby Donnelly who matures with every passing game.

We are unlikely to witness such thrilling scorelines on a regular basis. Much of this season will be played, by every team, with an emphasis on not to concede - at times, it will not be pretty.

But if Airdrie’s First Division survival is ensured as a result, then is that a price worth paying?

Advertiser man of the match: Bobby Donnelly. Young centre-half snuffed out the threat of Pars dangerman Andy Kirk.

Moment of the match: Referee Charleston’s decision to send Phinn packing.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, Shields, Wilson, McCann, Williamson (Bell 61), Phinn, Glass (Thomson 84), Burke, Kirk, Bayne (Wiles 75). Subs not used: Muirhead, Reidford(gk).

Booked: Wilson, Shields. Sent off: Phinn.

Airdrie: Robertson, Smyth, Donnelly, Nixon, Hazley, McDougall (McLaughlin 53), McDonald, McKenna, Cardle (Brown 55), Di Giacomo, Lynch (Noble 61). Subs not used: Smith, Hollis(gk).

Booked: Donnelly, Di Giacomo, Lynch.

Referee: Craig Charleston.

Attendance: 3334.