Lewis McGrattan says it’s all about momentum for Airdrie as a home tie against Partick Thistle comes hot on the heels of Wednesday’s stunning Hampden win.

The relentless Diamonds heaped the misery on managerless Queen’s Park at the national stadium, Mason Hancock and Ricco Diack grabbing doubles before substitutes Lewis McGregor and Chris Mochrie combined to finish off an outstanding passing move for Airdrie’s fifth.

It was the second 5-0 defeat inflicted upon the hapless Spiders in a week following their SPFL Trust Trophy final loss to Livingston, but speaking after the game midfielder McGrattan admitted that Saturday’s visitors would be a tougher nut to crack.

“Since the new management went in they’ve had a wee bounce, but they’ll be cautious of us as well – especially after scoring five goals tonight. We go in in good form and full of confidence.

“It’ll be a really tough game, all the games with Partick this season have been good.

“They’re a really good side fighting for the play-off position, so we know what it’ll be like – but we’re coming in there on good form ourselves, so it should be a good game.”

The new management in question – the duo of club captain Brian Graham and former Airdrie boss Mark Wilson – have been in post since February’s 1-1 draw with the Diamonds, and are unbeaten in six as they aim to confirm the Jags’ place in the promotion play-offs.

Although Airdrie remain at the foot of the table, the Diamonds’ form has been even better over the last ten games, with four wins and three draws compared to Partick’s three wins and four draws.

With five games of the league season remaining, McGrattan is hopeful that his side’s improved displays can continue.

“We’re in a really good place since the turn of the year, I think our form has been really good – probably mid-table.

“It’s been a lot better this side of the year – so we know we’re a good team, we know we can cause them problems, but we’ll be cautious as well.

“We’re just really looking forward to it. After a win you just want to keep playing and try to keep the run going.”

Thistle hold the upper hand in the meetings so far, a Graham double handing the Glasgow side a 2-1 win in Maryhill in October. Despite a fine Adam Frizzell goal, Airdrie were hampered by McGrattan’s red card early in the second half.

It was 2-0 to the Jags at the Albert Bartlett Stadium in December, as Graham and Daniel O’Reilly found the net against a heavily depleted Diamonds side.

And Graham was on the scoresheet again as the sides drew 1-1 at the Wyre Stadium in February, Ben Wilson grabbing Airdrie’s second half equaliser.

As the Diamonds look to take the points in Saturday’s fourth and final meeting of the season, Lewis stresses that he and his team-mates can only take care of their own performance.

“That's where we’re at – it’s five games left and it’s five maybe must-wins.

“That’s what we’re looking to do and we’ll see where we end up.”

Player-manager Rhys McCabe, also speaking after Wednesday’s match, expects another difficult encounter with the promotion-chasing Jags.

“Results and performances have certainly picked up under Brian. They’ve tweaked their formation in terms of playing a three at the back, and they’re getting a few positive results.

“We know that it’s going to be a difficult game, they always are against Partick. The boys are full of confidence tonight, but my only thought is to get them in tomorrow, make sure that we’re recovering properly, and look forward to Saturday.”

The Diamonds boss will again be without defender Cammy Bruce (knee) and striker Aaron Reid (hamstring), while Lewis Strapp (ankle) and Ben Wilson (hip) continue to be assessed. Wednesday’s double-scorer Ricco Diack is unable to feature against his parent club.

Referee Greg Soutar’s only other match involving Airdrie this season was October’s SPFL Trust Trophy draw with East Kilbride.

Match tickets are available using the link below, and our DiamondsTV video (subscribers outwith the UK and Ireland) and audio (pay-per-match worldwide) streams are available.

Please be aware that behaviour deemed unacceptable will result in ejection from the stadium. Issues arising during the match can be reported anonymously - see the posters around the stadium for more information. Our unacceptable conduct policy can be viewed using the link below.