Defender Craig Watson admits the Diamonds’ dismal run is playing on their minds ahead of a huge bottom of the table clash with Dunfermline – and insists they must get back to winning ways against their nearest rivals.
Rock-bottom Airdrie are four points adrift of the Pars as they head to East End Park today and Rhys McCabe’s men can ill-afford to let them march further ahead.
The depleted Diamonds remain plagued by injuries to key players amid a run of one win in their last 15 games in all competitions and five straight defeats in the Championship, failing to score in their last four.
And Watson said: “It does play on your mind, but it’s our job to be professional about it and leave no stone unturned to change things.
“Not scoring recently is a frustration but the gaffer does a lot of positive, attacking pattern work. That has worked in the past for us and hopefully we get through this spell and get going again.
“We are looking forward to the game. Dunfermline will be as desperate as us to get more points on the board, but we’ve got to make sure our fight and determination is greater than theirs and our quality can shine through.
“Every game right now is a must-win, it doesn’t matter who it is against, but this week does have an added factor.
“It has always been a cagey game with Dunfermline over the past few seasons. It has always been tough and quite physical. The pitch tends to be quite heavy but hopefully at this stage of the season that won’t be a concern.
“Hopefully, we can get the ball moving and play some nice stuff.
“We got a massive win there that helped us towards the play-offs last season so hopefully we can get another one of them under the belt.”
Airdrie are unlikely to have anyone back fit this week but striker Aaron Reid and defender Mason Hancock are a step closer, having returned to training. The likes of player-boss Rhys McCabe and winger Liam McStravick remain sidelined.
Watson added: “It looks like within the near future some boys will be coming back, but it is up to the boys who are fit to do a job until they come back.
“We can’t just down tools and wait for them to be back, we need to put in performances to hold onto the jerseys.”
Airdrie boss McCabe said: “The message to the boys is that it’s a six-pointer, it’s a massive game, and I’m going in there with the mentality that I’m going to win. That’s how I always approach games.
“The games where we’ve faced Dunfermline in the past have always been entertaining affairs.
“We’re going away from home, so they’ll have a slight advantage on that side, but it’s two teams who are probably struggling for a little bit of form and a little bit of consistency.
“We’ve got to make sure that we prepare right and we work hard, and we’re going to get the three points.”