League One Player of the Month Dylan Easton says a win over Montrose would top any personal award as the Diamonds aim to increase their narrow lead over Stewart Petrie’s men.

Both sides drew last weekend, maintaining the status quo at the top of cinch League 1 as Montrose tied with Dumbarton while Airdrie came from behind to keep the heat on leaders Cove Rangers.

Easton believes it was a game of two halves at Balmoral Stadium.

“Tough game - we knew it was going to be. Obviously Cove are a bit like ourselves at the moment, we were flying and both teams were going in in good form.

“First half I don’t think we were at our best, we started slow. Second half I thought was a bit more like us, we caused them a lot of problems and I thought personally, if there was an extra ten minutes, we were the only team that looked like going to get the win.”

The match topped off a week which saw the club land an awards double as Ian Murray was named the Glen’s Vodka Manager of the Month while Easton took the cinch Player of the Month award.

With three goals and three assists in January, the talismanic midfielder was pleased to see his name in the headlines.

“It’s good to get recognised. As I say, the team make my job a lot easier, they get me in the positions.

“On a personal note it is good to get these awards and stuff like that, but as long as we’re winning and picking up the three points on a Saturday, that’s the most important thing.”

Of course award-winning form goes hand-in-hand with good performances on the park, and you have to go back to the start of December for the Diamonds’ last league defeat.

With the last four matches coming away from home, it’s an impressive run - and Easton is pleased to return to the Penny Cars Stadium.

“We’re doing well, I think that’s us eight games unbeaten in the league, so the boys are doing really well and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.

“We’re back home as well, it’s where we play our good football. Hopefully we can get the three points.”

During their eight-match unbeaten run, the Diamonds leapfrogged Montrose into second place, but the Links Park side were the last team to triumph over Airdrie, and Dylan is aware that Saturday’s opponents are also in good form.

“Montrose are a very hard team to play against. They’re a bit like us, full of energy and they’ll always work hard. I think the rest of the lads would agree that Montrose are the team we’ve not really had a good go at.

“First game of the season we didn’t really have a squad, we were a bit short with injuries including myself. The midweek game up there was crazy, the wind and the conditions never made it easy.

“No excuses this week - we’re looking good, we’ve got a full-strength squad and we’ll be looking to go and get the three points.”

Manager Ian Murray says his side are better placed to face the Gable Endies than they have been so far this season.

“They’re a very good team, solid. Very rarely do you see Montrose coming off losing a lot of goals - I think they’ve lost one game in about 16 or 17 inside 90 minutes.

“We play them now in far better shape than we have done previously this season - the opening day was really poor from us, and the second game was an absolute lottery up there with the weather.

“We look forward to the game, we believe that we can win the game. We don’t fear them, but we also respect them.”

The manager expects striker Gabby McGill to be available for selection for the match, though Luke Lyons and Salim Kouider-Aïssa continue to miss out.

Referee Lorraine Watson is in charge of her first Airdrie match this season.

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