Airdrie head to table-toppers Livingston with a point to prove - and Kyle Hutton says there's no better place to do it.

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Midfielder Hutton has been at the club for two weeks after joining on an emergency loan from St.Mirren, and the 25-year-old is enjoying his new surroundings.

 

"It's been great so far, they're a good set of boys.

 

"Obviously we had a bit of a setback at the weekend, but apart from that I'm really enjoying it."

 

That setback came in the form of a 5-0 capitulation at the hands of struggling Stenhousemuir, a result that was all the more unexpected due to the Diamonds' run of six league wins.

 

Hutton is chalking it up to a freak result.

 

"We started on the front foot and created a few chances, but they got two quick goals and we had a man sent off.

 

"Before we knew it we were 3-0 down at half-time and it's obviously a long way back from there.

 

"That's football at times, the boys have been on a good run with six wins in a row.

 

"Sometimes a freak result like that can be a good thing - you can learn more from a defeat than from a win.

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We had a look back at the video and picked the bones out of our performance, and we've been working hard

all week to make sure we don't make the same mistakes on Saturday."

 

Airdrie face a tough task on Saturday, travelling to West Lothian to face table-toppers Livingston.

 

The Lions already have a league win over the Diamonds under their belts, and they also triumphed in the Scottish Cup at New Broomfield.

 

David Hopkin's men are on a similar run of form to Airdrie, both having won six of their last seven fixtures.

 

Kyle thinks bouncing back will be a tough challenge, but that's exactly what he and his new team-mates require.

 

"It's not going to be an easy game, but at the same time it's the perfect game because it gives us the opportunity to put things right.

 

"We know Livingston are going really well in the league, we're seven points behind them now and while coming off a 5-0 defeat might not be the best preparation for us, it's a good chance for us to go out and make up for it. We're confident."

 

Diamonds head coach Mark Wilson doesn't think he'll have any problems with his players being up for the match.

 

"No motivation is needed for this one. Everybody knows we let everyone down badly with that performance, and they know what's expected for a top-of-the-table clash.

 

"We need a reaction, and there's no better place to go and get one than away to the league leaders."

 

Daniel Boateng is suspended for the Diamonds after being ordered off in the Stenhousemuir defeat, and Andy Ryan also misses out after picking up a red card for comments made after the match.

 

Kevin Schmidt (knee) and Scott Stewart (ankle) have been passed fit for selection, and both will be in contention for the squad.

 

Steven Reid referees the tie at the Tony Macaroni Arena.