Diamonds slump to foot of table after Dunfermline defeat

Aug 26 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

MOST managers agree that the league tables aren’t worth assessing or fretting over until the end of the first quarter of matches.

By then, according to common consensus, the wheat has been separated from the chaff, over nine to 12 games, and informed conclusions can be drawn on who will be challenging at the top and those who won’t.

Airdrie United supporters may cling to this particular chain of thought after watching their side hit rock-bottom of the First Division on Saturday evening.

If the pundits are right, that is where Kenny Black’s team will be come the end of the season.

The Diamonds’ performance at East End Park was, potentially, a glimpse of what lies ahead over the coming months. Black’s men didn’t play badly and actually created two very good first half chances.

But poor finishing, suspect defending and bad decision-making proved to be their downfall. Dunfermline dominated and deserved the three points but they weren’t made to graft for their goals as they moved to the top of the table.

The manner of the result was frustrating but not unsurprising. If last weekend’s draw against Queen of the South showed that the team were able to compete at this level, this match merely highlighted the lack of quality which will eventually see Airdrie hit a glass ceiling.

Black will attempt to address this issue in the next week or so, although he clearly has his work cut out. One area that needs strengthened is the striking department but there aren’t many prolific hitmen out there available for brass farthings.

The need for a goalscorer was intensified following a couple of missed opportunities that may result in John Baird and Frankie Lagana being ordered to stay behind for shooting practice at training this week.

In the fourth minute, Baird cut open the Pars defence as he latched on to a through ball but fired an effort straight at keeper Greg Fleming. His Australian team-mate did something similar just before the half-hour mark.

“I felt John should have scored,” sighed Black. “Had we gone 1-0 up, we might have asked a few questions of Dunfermline, whose home form hasn’t been that good.

“We should have worked their keeper a lot harder. Had that type of situation happened at the other end, Dunfermline have the quality in Andy Kirk and Graham Bayne to punish you. I thought we were well beaten. If you concede the goals we did and don’t take the chances that come your way, you will end up with that result all day long. We can’t have any complaints.”

Perhaps the omens were there. No matter how Airdrie’s contingent travelled to Fife, obstacles lay in wait whether it was the chronic roadworks on the A80 en route to the Kincardine Bridge or the accident which led to lengthy delays on its Forth Road neighbour along the estuary.

However, once inside the ground, stressed-out punters were treated to an early laugh at the expense of unfortunate referee Anthony Law.

The whistler pulled a calf muscle within the opening minutes and had to be helped off the pitch.

The tannoy announcer then asked if there were any SFA-registered officials in the crowd willing to run one of the touchlines. Thankfully Joe Moore, a 24-year-old Pars supporter from Midlothian, came forward and stepped into the breach.

He performed admirably and spoke well after his dream afternoon but Dunfermline gaffer Jim McIntyre was correct when he suggested it was maybe time for fourth officials to be installed at these games in order to prevent amateur hour.

The home side opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Bayne guided Alex Burke’s floating corner over the line as a posse of players, including Diamonds keeper Stephen Robertson, surged to the front post.

Airdrie were reasonably neat and tidy on the ball but were given a stiff defensive examination, especially when Dunfermline winger Willie Gibson found himself in possession.

The former Kilmarnock player was given too much time and space to push forward and attack Diamonds left-back Paul Lovering, who battled gamely but was exposed on far too many occasions. Most of the Pars’ deliveries into Airdrie’s box came from their right-hand side.

It was a cross to the back post that led to the Fifers’ second goal in the 58th minute and quite what was going through the mind of Airdrie trialist Tom Nolan, who had only been on the pitch a matter of moments, is anyone’s guess.

He expertly converted Calum Woods’ delivery with an accomplished finish that any striker would have been proud of. Robertson was rooted to the spot, while Nolan held his head in his hands, hoping the ground would open up and swallow him.

It was a goal that ended Airdrie’s hopes of nicking something from the match, although substitute Kevin Watt did stretch his legs in the closing stages and force Fleming into a couple of low saves.

There will almost certainly be further afternoons like this but Black will console himself with the fact that fixtures against prospective title challengers will not decide his side’s fate. And until nine games have been chalked off the calendar, the league table should continue to be treated as a work in progress and not an accurate reflection of how things will turn out.

Advertiser man of the match (3pts) - Kevin McDonald. Worked hard in central midfield and looked comfortable on the ball. Scott McLaughlin (2pts), Bobby Donnelly (1pt).

Moment of the match: Baird’s failure to score following the 15-minute referee injury stoppage was hugely significant.

Dunfermline: Fleming; Woods, McGregor, Higgins, McCann; Gibson, Bell, Burke, Cardle (McDougall 79); Kirk (Phinn 69), Bayne. Subs not used: Dowie, Muirhead, Paterson (gk).

Booked: Bayne.

Airdrie: Robertson, Storey, Donnelly, Smyth, Lovering (Nolan 56); Smith, McDonald, McLaughlin, Trouten (Watt 69); Lagana, Baird (Keast 85). Subs not used: McCabe, Hollis (gk).

Booked: Lovering, McDonald.

Referee: Anthony Law.

Attendance: 2834.