Airdrie slipped to their second away draw in a week, although the Diamonds stretched their unbeaten league run to seven games after a 1-1 tie with Queen’s Park.

Ian Murray was forced into a defensive change with Callum Fordyce dropping out of the side after picking up a hamstring knock in Tuesday’s match at Broadwood. Rhys McCabe moved back into defence with Scott Agnew returning to the midfield.

Ex-Diamonds Lee Kilday and Bob McHugh started for the Spiders, with midfielder Connor Smith lining up against his brother Callum.

Airdrie got off to an uncharacteristically slow start, although the home side came close to a calamitous own-goal in the third minute, an attempted clearance from an inswinging corner kick skewing off the underside of the crossbar.

Queen’s Park seemed to be handling the heavy pitch better than their opponents in the early stages, with some intricate passing moving the ball forward at pace.

Although the makeshift Diamonds defence was coping well, Louis Longridge did manage to get a shot away after eight minutes, but it was a comfortable take for Max Currie.

A similar move ended five minutes later when captain Michael Doyle overhit his cross, and Luca Connell could only curl a free-kick wide of the target on 16 minutes.

As a crowded box jostled for a 19th-minute corner kick, a powerful header flew past Currie’s post.

Eight minutes later the home side were in front, another corner kick being nodded out to the edge of the box where defender Charlie Fox applied a fine finish to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

The hosts barely had time to celebrate their lead before the Diamonds were back on level terms, Smith robbing the defender on the touchline and looking up before laying the ball on a plate for Scott McGill to place his shot beyond Calum Ferrie.

A good spell followed for the visitors, buoyed by their quickfire equaliser, with a good defensive block required to stop Dylan Easton’s through ball reaching Calum Gallagher on 31 minutes.

Easton himself volleyed wide a minute later following a smart cushioned header from Smith.

Kyle MacDonald was getting forward to join the attack whenever possible, but his 35th-minute shot bent away from the top corner after a good run.

On the stroke of half-time Smith missed a gilt-edged opportunity as Adam Frizzell won possession, drew the keeper and squared for the striker. It looked sure to be a second for Airdrie, but Smith’s shot went wide of the open goal.

Smith almost made amends a minute after the restart, but Ferrie was out quickly to block on the corner of the box.

The Queens keeper made another good save on the hour-mark, pushing out a curling McCabe free-kick.

A number of frustrating refereeing decisions followed, with Easton in particular feeling aggrieved as he was shown a yellow card following a perfectly-timed slide tackle.

Jordan Allan replaced Gallagher as the Diamonds chased a winner, and it took a good block to stop Craig Watson’s 74th-minute cross as the Airdrie attack queued up to finish.

Thomas Robson had to hook away a Smith cross three minutes later with Frizzell lurking at the far post, and there were shouts for handball from the Diamonds as Easton’s 80th-minute cross struck a defender, but referee Dan McFarlane was unimpressed.

Easton found himself outnumbered in the box with two minutes remaining, before Allan and Queens sub Jack Thomson fired over at either end.

Another draw between the sides, the fourth of the season in all competitions, although the Diamonds will likely be more disappointed after creating a number of second half chances.

With Cove Rangers also dropping points, it’s as you were for the top two ahead of next weekend’s clash at the Balmoral Stadium.