Airdrie fall to Inverness

Nov 18 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

IN a city known as the mouth of the Ness, travel-sick Airdrie found themselves chewed up and ruthlessly spat out. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

The Highlands have not proved a happy hunting ground in recent seasons for the Diamonds but few places are these days, it seems. This result ensured a seventh defeat in eight games on the road for Kenny Black’s men.

Dingwall, Dunfermline, Greenock, Glasgow, Dumfries, Dundee and now Inverness. All venues which have already played host to Airdrie losses; a roll call of woe from north to south and everywhere in between.

A sum total of one point (at Ayr) from a possible 24 has been secured away from New Broomfield and there was little evidence to suggest that this barren run of form will be reversed any time soon as Caley cruised to a comfortable and deserved victory.

Scorelines and displays like those produced on the banks of the Moray Firth on Saturday do two things. Firstly, they allow no room for slip-ups at home, meaning even more pressure will be heaped on the shoulders of the players when they perform in their own backyard.

And secondly, they turn the spotlight firmly back on to a manager, who still has his fair share of critics waiting quietly in the wings. In order to keep the boo-boys at bay, Black can’t allow his side to play as poorly as they did at the Caledonian Stadium.

This ninth loss in 14 league outings, coupled with Ayr claiming a draw in their match with Ross County, meant the Diamonds slumped to the foot of the First Division again.

To make matters worse, the gap to eighth-placed Morton, this weekend’s opponents, is now five points after their 5-0 crushing of Raith Rovers.

“The result and performance was disappointing,” said Black. “It wasn’t a good 90 minutes for us. We had some decent passages of play but our final ball into the box was not enough to concern them.

“We had eight players who never played anywhere near to what they are capable of and that’s not good enough if you want to win games.

“I have told the players that they can’t keep turning in performances like that, especially now that we are back at the bottom of the table. It is plain to see that we need to improve.”

Goals from Danni Sanchez, on the stroke of half-time, and substitute Eric Odihambo saw Caley inflict their own form of Highland capital punishment as they prepare for an Alba Challenge Cup final date with Dundee this Sunday.

Airdrie were in that position a year ago, but the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Ross County in Perth, which clinched silverware, is now a dim and distant memory.

What lies ahead for Diamonds fans this winter is a long, grim relegation struggle and the prospect of few days in the sun to look forward too.

“We needed the players to take responsibility out there but I felt that they didn’t just let themselves down, they also let down the 100 or so Airdrie supporters who took the time and trouble to come up here,” added Black.

This contest was won and lost in the midfield area. The Diamonds failed to get to grips with their opponents, who controlled large chunks of the play and dictated the tempo virtually all afternoon.

Alan Trouten and Ricky Waddell toiled on the flanks. Kevin McDonald made a bright start but his overall contribution was below average. His partner in the centre, Scott McLaughlin, had a couple of shots and was full of purpose, but struggled to make anything happen.

Caley were always in the ascendancy and looked the more devilish going forward as Black’s men failed to turn the odd pretty passing pattern and short spell of pressure into something that seriously tested keeper Ryan Esson.

It was terribly frustrating, particularly given the fact that Caley went with three in the middle of the park, which occasionally became a four when striker Richie Foran dropped back to the left-hand side. The manager was entitled to more success in this key battleground than what was delivered.

It appeared as if the Diamonds had done enough to ensure a stalemate at the break, but then S disaster struck. An imaginative and dangerous run from full-back Ryan McCann took him inside and to the edge of the box.

The move subsequently broke down and in the space of two passes, Sanchez was clean through on goal as Airdrie were caught over-committing.

Bobby Donnelly attempted a late challenge but it was to no avail as the ball was slipped through the legs of Robertson and into the net.

“The first goal was a very soft one to concede and probably similar to many that we have let in this season,” Black added. “The problem is that teams are not having to work hard to score against us, and that is certainly alarming.”

A home win was as predictable as Labour joy in a Glasgow by-election once Sanchez opened the scoring, although Caley endured a heart-stopping moment soon after the restart when Nauris Bulvitis turned a McCann cross inches past his own post.

But Airdrie could not maintain or build on early second half momentum and their hopes of travelling back down the rain- lashed A9 with a positive result were dashed when Odihambo blasted a vicious shot in off the post in the 69th minute.

As the team bus pulled out of the stadium car park on Saturday night, no-one on board will have been in any doubt as to the importance of Morton’s visit this Saturday. Another defeat would leave the Diamonds, and Black, in a perilous position.

A sign that a season isn’t going well? When you are gearing up for a must-win relegation battle before the Christmas lights have even been switched on.

Advertiser man of the match (3pts) – Ryan McCann. One of the best attacking full-backs in the SFL. Stephen Robertson (2pts), Simon Storey (1pt).

Moment of the match: Sanchez’s goal on the stroke of half-time was a killer blow.

Inverness CT: Esson; Tokely, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek; Imrie (Hayes 59), Proctor, Duncan; Sanchez (Odihambo 67), Rooney, Foran (Cox 90). Subs: Stratford, Allison (gk).

Booked: Munro.

Airdrie: Robertson; McCann, Donnelly, Nixon (Keegan 78), Storey; Trouten (Smith 74), McDonald, McLaughlin, Waddell (Lagana 74); O’Carroll, Baird. Subs: Watt, Hollis (gk).

Referee: Craig MacKay.

Attendance: 2780