LIVID GAFFER WARNS STARS

Published date24 April 2024
Publication titleAirdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe has warned his players they are now fighting for a place in his play-off squad after Saturday's shocker at Partick Thistle

While acknowledging that Airdrie have done remarkably well to follow up last season's Championship play-off promotion with a place in the Premiership play-offs, McCabe says the performance in the second half at Firhill was simply unacceptable as the Diamonds fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat.

Airdrie had chances in a very even first half, with Lewis

McGregor unlucky not to open the scoring, but when Aidan Fitzpatrick netted the opener in 52 minutes, the Diamonds collapsed as Thistle roared on.

Brian Graham netted in 60 and 68 minutes to put the game out of sight, with sub Ricco Diack scoring a fourth with five minutes to go.

Airdrie close their regular season with games at home to Dundee United and Queen's Park over the next two Friday nights, and McCabe says everybody now needs to convince him they deserve a place in his team for the play-off quarter-finals against Thistle in May.

McCabe said: "We've got to make amends if we want to win these play-off games.

"There's two games left in the league and every single player, every single position, will be judged on how they perform now.

"The second half performance, and what I've seen there, gives me a little bit of food for thought for going into the play-offs.

"The season has been great, we've been really positive.

"Everyone would probably have had us as bookies' favourite to be there or thereabouts for the place going down.

"But it's probably a wee slap in the face that you start to get a wee bit carried away, and maybe thinking you've achieved things, or you've established yourselves, and quickly you're brought back down to earth.

"I can accept losing a game, if it's in the manner in which we're trying to do...

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