[The Official Airdrieonians Thread - 2019/20 and beyond]

Hopefully some of these guys can transition over the course of the next few seasons into the first team, but no need to rush any of the younger ones. Gradual drip feed. We've got a pretty strong first team squad at the moment who have really developed an attitude and mentality over the last few months which ought to see us there or thereabouts. 

Cannae sniff at a 10-0 but my god Alloa must be worried looking at that. Embarrassing margin. Pleased that the reserve team showed a positive mentality second half anawl and went for the jugular, rather than the standard foot off the gas stuff you usually see in any football game when it gets to 5. 

[Airdrie Diamonds vs. Peters Head Blues.]

Would be just like us to follow up our run with two defeats on the bounce but hopefully the players attack the game with some frustrating at losing the winning streak and I would think a fast start could well see us to 3 points. 

Really need to look to win these games given fixtures elsewhere but it won't be easy and if we don't approach it with the right level of focus and determination then we could be caught cold. 

[Top of the league and you're no!]

7 minutes ago, ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds said:

Think I'd rather a draw in that game even if it leaves us 2nd on goal difference, need to worry about Falkirk as well in case they actually get their act together

Wouldn't be too upset by that, ultimately it's such a tight top 4 that no set of results will be definitive. 

From a psychological perspective it would be a big boost to go into the Falkirk game top of the pile, though. 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

4 minutes ago, ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds said:

Would like to see Smith try to lift it over the keeper there as I don't think he was ever going to place it past him at either side but I wouldn't hold it against him. Not as easy a chance as it might seem.

Aye, think if Smith had the chance for a do-over he'd probably try and lift it. As you say, the chance is a lot less straightforward than it first seems. Awk well, on to Saturday. 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

1 hour ago, renton said:

it was a lovely through ball and a well timed run. Some credit due to Munro in the Raith goal though, he was off his line very quickly, closed the angle well, stayed big and didn't commit early. Made it much more difficult for Smith.

Aye you're right, keeper does everything you can ask of him and it was sufficient to put Smith off so credit to him. Have to think had that been Gallagher or Carrick they'd have handled the pressure better. Ach well! Shoulda, woulda, coulda. 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

Re the second red not causing the injury; fair enough, misunderstanding on my part. 

 

[Predictions, Saturday, 14th December]

Airdrie 2 - 0 Peterhead
Falkirk 1 - 0 Raith
Forfar 0 - 0 Dumbarton
Montrose 2 - 1 Clyde
Stranraer 0 - 2 East Fife

[Top of the league and you're no!]

Need to take that one on the chin, the stone island gear comments always give me a chuckle, decent patter.  Big opportunity to regain top spot on Saturday if Falkirk can get their act together at home to Raith... which admittedly is a big if. 

[The Official Airdrieonians Thread - 2019/20 and beyond]

Shame the run came to an end and our woes against Raith continue, but do the business against Peterhead and we could very well find ourselves back at the top of the league come 5pm Saturday, if Falkirk can get themselves a win. The same level of endeavour and we should have enough to bounce right back to winning ways, albeit 6 wins followed by 2 defeats would be very Airdrie. 

Two very winnable games coming up before a juicey one at home to Falkirk. 

 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

A tight game and a draw would probably have been fair, but if you don't manage to carve open a team when you are 11 v 10 you probably deserve to take nothing away with you. 

Well contested match played mostly between the two boxes, albeit one short of real quality from either side. Airdrie never quite managed to produce the same vivaciousness up top as we have of late. Unlike us not to get at least one goal but Raith handled the long throw and counter attacks much better than anyone else, so credit to their organisation. That being said, Smith has to score in that one on one when he is brilliantly played through. He times his run so well but fluffs his lines, alas. Would have been a very different game. Both teams could have had penalties, with the Rovers player in the first half doing the right thing by staying up and trying to score given he was one on one still, only for the Airdrie tackle the second time around to be a good one, and with Mckay being fouled early second half in the Raith box; he manages to get there first, ahead of the Raith player who is trying to take the ball under control, but who instead ends up kicking the back of McKay's foot. 

The two Raith reds are horrible tackles,the first in particular. Awful, thuggish, despicable 'tackle'. Guy should be ashamed of himself. And if Reily's ankle is broken in the second one then can only hope he is able to come back stronger. Nasty and not something you want to see in any game, albeit far less malice in that tackle than the first red.

I don't think Fordyce has kicked Vitoria with much force at all, looks a trip to me and I doubt anyone would have complained with much vigour if the yellow was shown, but hey ho, that's the risk you take. Would have been better to pull the shirt instead of sweeping the leg. 

Was it a penalty at the end? Going by the new rule regards increasing your silhouette, then probably yes, seeing he he sticks his elbow out and it hits him, but that is a daft new rule which I'd dearly love refs to ignore right across the board. 

All in all another example of Raith having a capacity to grind out games and of our inability to get any change out them.  Cannae win every week I suppose, would be too boring...

A wee favour from Falkirk against an even more depleted Raith could well see us back at the top this weekend, so long as we do the business at home. Got to try and bounce right back to winning ways. Going to be a tight old league at least for the foreseeable. 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

24 minutes ago, stevoraith said:

 

I didn’t realise your run had been quite that spectacular.

Well done Airdrie.

 

 

 

Difficult to see us improving, our poor form hasn’t been down to key players under-performing, it’s been down to key players not playing and that isn’t going to change for Saturday

 

I’d be surprised by anything other than an away win.

Believe me mate, I'm still struggling to accept it as a reality haha. Credit to Ian Murray and the players, sensational Month or so. 

That's encouraging, horrible time to lose key men to injury especially given the top teams all playing against each other, albeit i'd still expect the current players to up their game given the size of the match. I'd be absolutely delighted if they don't, though. 

Expect an interesting game at the very least! 

[Raith vs Airdrie]

After a run of six wins on the bounce, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 4, beating Falkirk and East Fife, it's hard to resist feeling like something is going to give, especially when we have struggled to get anything off Raith in recent years. 

Airdrie undoubtedly good enough to win the game but, given we have Peterhead at home and Clyde away in the next two matches and given Raith keep getting results at home, a draw wouldn't be a calamity. Regardless of the result, i'm confident the airdrie players will give Raith a game and work themselves into the turf to get a result. That is, ultimately, all I can ask for. 

I'd expect Raith to improve their performances from the apparently poor stuff of late, given it's a top of the table clash and a chance to reclaim top spot. If we can sneak a wee lead, though, I'd expect us to see it out. 

Buzzin like a second hand fridge for it, regardless.