Arbroath match preview
23rd March 2012
Airdrie welcome second-placed Arbroath to New Broomfield on Saturday hoping to extend a 100% fourth-quarter record.
Consecutive wins over Albion Rovers and Forfar Athletic have seen the Diamonds move within five points of a coveted play-off position, and Jimmy Boyle's men will know that they can't afford any further slip-ups if they're to reach the target set pre-season.
Defender Jamie Bain, who has filled the right-midfield slot in recent weeks, knows that only a win is good enough against Paul Sheerin's men, and is confident that the Diamond's momentum can spur them on.
"We’ve picked up six points out of six so far in this quarter and that’s a good start for us, but we’ve got to keep it going and that means getting a result against Arbroath this weekend.”
A second-half fightback against the Red Lichties in last month's rearranged fixture saw Airdrie take a share of the points, and marked the beginning of the side's current four-match unbeaten run.
Earlier in the season the teams fought out a 3-3 draw at New Broomfield, and Arbroath were the victors in the opening fixture at Gayfield, beating the Diamonds 3-1.
Jamie Stevenson misses out through suspension, which may see last week's third goalscorer Willie McLaren reclaim the number 11 shirt.
The match referee is Mr Gary Hilland.