Clinical finishing was the difference as Livingston ran out 3-0 winners at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, despite the Diamonds creating a number of good chances to score.

Airdrie were dealt a pre-match blow with Saturday’s two-goal striker Ben Wilson a late call-off due to illness. Chris Mochrie replaced the Northern Irishman in the only change to Saturday’s line-up.

The Diamonds took the game to the visitors in the early stages, Craig Watson seeing a third-minute cross drifting behind following an incisive cross-field passing move, with Gavin Gallagher slamming just wide of the post three minutes later.

A well-timed sliding challenge denied Mochrie a shooting opportunity on eight minutes, and a block by the chest of Michael Nottingham followed by an excellent Jérôme Prior save somehow kept Lewis McGregor and Adam Frizzell at bay after 12 minutes.

Livingston’s first real chance of the match came on 14 minutes, but a flying Luke Badley-Morgan block denied former Scotland striker Stevie May.

Tete Yengi failed to hit the target as he span onto a 17th-minute ball, and Wright palmed over following a Livi corner as the visitors began to find their feet.

There was a moment of controversy on 20 minutes as Prior seemed to handle outside his box, but referee Ryan Lee let play continue.

A fine Gallagher ball found Sam Graham midway through the half, but the defender couldn’t squeeze the ball home at full stretch.

Lewis McGrattan’s 25th-minute pass getting momentarily caught under McGregor’s studs gave a visiting defender the chance to get across to block, and five minute later Matthew Clarke nodded wide at the other end.

Ten minutes before the break the Lions took the lead, Scott Pittman’s pass to Yengi splitting the home defence before the Australian striker squared for May, who made no mistake from inside the six yard box.

The Diamonds survived another attack down the left two minutes later, Pittman unable to head home after another good cross.

Rhys Armstrong sent a powerful effort wide of the target on 39 minutes, with the ball nicked off McGregor’s two five minutes later. The Diamonds forward was denied by Nottingham’s sliding tackle on the stroke of half-time, and David Martindale’s side took their narrow lead into the break.

Prior made hard work of Flynn Duffy’s cross two minutes after the restart, and Mochrie was unlucky to only hit the side netting with a fizzing effort after some impressive control in the Livingston box.

The visitors grabbed their second on 56 minutes, a superb curling corner delivery from Reece McAlear requiring only a glancing header from Clarke to steer the ball home, despite Kieran Wright’s best efforts.

Former St Johnstone hero May put the result beyond doubt 11 minutes later, stealing between Graham and Badley-Morgan to nod home Daniel Finlayson’s floated cross.

Following a number of substitutions from both sides, Robbie Muirhead fired in a free-kick from the edge of the area, forcing a good save from Wright.

Airdrie sub Cammy Cooper went close with a 79th-minute strike after Frizzell’s driving run.

With seven minutes remaining three 17-year-old Diamonds were handed their senior debuts as twins Cole and Dylan Williams and Jamie White took to the field, all three impressing with their direct running in the closing period.

White went closest to having a direct impact, but his 90th-minute through ball was just too heavy for Cooper.

Yengi was adjudged to be onside for the last effort of the match, but Wright was equal to his strike.

The result sees Livingston close the gap on Falkirk at the top of the table, while the Diamonds remain nine points behind ninth-placed Dunfermline ahead of another home fixture on Saturday as Partick Thistle visit the Albert Bartlett.