Ryan Conroy is delighted to be back in the Diamond, and the Airdrie captain is aiming for back-to-back wins over Alloa.

​

Midfielder Conroy made his first start in over three months against Stranraer on Tuesday evening, capping a fine performance with a goal from the penalty spot as Airdrie won 2-1.

​

"It was good to get back playing after a nightmare few months. I'm not really used to being out injured, so it was very frustrating - but I'm delighted to be back.

​

"It was nice to get the goal as well. When Darryl was fouled I thought he would want it, but he was happy to step aside and let me take it. I don't want to jinx it, but I don't think I've ever missed a penalty!

 

"Hopefully I'll get a few more before the end of the season."

​

Having captained the side for the majority of the season in Marc Fitzpatrick's absence, Conroy has been watching from the sidelines himself in recent weeks - a new experience for the 30-year-old.

​

"You obviously see the game differently when you're higher than pitch level. It can be even more frustrating when the team aren't getting results - I feel like we've played well in some of the games that we've lost.

​

"At home we play with confidence, we enjoy playing here on the big pitch, but I think sometimes we need to have more of a battling mentality away from home."

​

 

The Diamonds are on the road again this weekend as they travel to the Indodrill Stadium to take on fourth-placed Alloa Athletic.

​

Ryan is confident that Airdrie can put on a performance in Clackmannanshire.

​

"It's always a tight match when we play Alloa, they like to play football as well and it's a similar surface to ours down there.

​

"We'll take confidence from Tuesday night, and the fact that we've already beaten them this season. We play them again next Tuesday, and it will be a very different game but Saturday's performance is important because it puts down a marker.

​

"We've got a good squad now with a healthy competition for places, and as always we'll go into the game with the mentality that we can take the three points."

​

Manager Stevie Findlay added "We're looking forward to it on the the back of a battling performance on Tuesday night.

​

"We've got to improve on our away record, but we expect a difficult game as Alloa have been doing well.

 

"If we go there and put on a hard-working performance like we did on Tuesday, we believe we can win the game."

​

Midfielder Tom Fry has picked up a concussion and will miss the trip to the Indodrill on medical advice.

​

Graham Beaton will referee the tie, his first Airdrie match this season.