Pars boss James McPake reacts to Airdrieonians defeat

ATHLETIC failed to sparkle against the Diamonds as their hopes of gate-crashing the promotion play-off spots were left hanging by a thread.

Disappointed manager, James McPake, had no complaints over the end result for the Pars at Airdrieonians on Saturday, which looks to have proved fatal to their hopes of a top four finish.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott looked to have given those ambitions renewed hope just after the hour mark when he cancelled out Dean McMaster's opener, but substitute Gavin Gallagher slammed home what proved to be the winner for the hosts just two minutes later.

Victory for ex-Par Rhys McCabe's team mean that they remain fourth - behind Partick Thistle only on goal difference - but, crucially, are now nine points clear of Dunfermline with just three games left.

The Pars are also 11 goals worse off than Airdrie, with the Jags a further two better off, leaving them likely to miss out a shot at top flight promotion this term.

"We got exactly what we deserved from that game," McPake said.

"Particularly in the first half we were out-ran, out-fought, outplayed. Credit to Airdrie for that, but we made it really easy for them in the first half.

James McPake watches on during his side's loss at the Excelsior Stadium. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"You work all week, you pick a team, and then, when something's not working, you've got to try and change it. That's what we tried to do, but they were miles better than us today.

"The way they got after us, compared to the way we got after them, that's disappointing. It looked like they out-worked us today as well."

A large travelling support made their way to the Excelsior Stadium, buoyed by their favourites having embarked on a four-game unbeaten run, but their opponents had won their previous three outings.

Former Par, Nikolay Todorov, and Chris Kane sent early efforts off-target at either end, before Lewis McCann headed over and Josh Edwards found the side net for the visitors.

Airdrie, though, began to find more space and a greater threat, with Charlie Telfer curling a decent effort over the bar, Todorov and ex-Kelty Hearts loanee, Kanayo Megwa, having shots blocked, and Deniz Mehmet making a decent stop from another one-time Dunfermline man, Gabby McGill.

Deniz Mehmet made some decent stops throughout the game. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Although Kane nodded over the bar at the other end, Mehmet was soon in action again, beating away a decent drive from ex-Pars captain, Callum Fordyce, but there was nothing the keeper could do when the breakthrough arrived in first half stoppage time.

From a short corner, McMaster collected the ball 20 yards from goal and his strike flew through a crowd of bodies and beyond Mehmet to give the Diamonds the lead.

"I think we started ok, maybe the first five, ten minutes, but I think thereafter it was all Airdrie," captain Kyle Benedictus said.

"It probably could've been more than the one goal. Even the goal, from a defensive point of view, it's not good enough. It's a short corner, we're not quick enough to get out to the ball, and the boy's taken a good strike."

Owen Moffat and Michael O'Halloran were sent on by McPake in a bid to turn the tide back in Athletic's favour, but they were again indebted to their keeper early in the second half as he denied both Telfer and Todorov.

They did go close when McCann, on the turn after controlling Fagan-Walcott's free-kick forward, shot wide, before they pulled level.

Matty Todd's inswinging corner to the far post was perfect for Fagan-Walcott, who found himself in acres of space, to steer home a well-taken volley from six yards to net his third goal for the club.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott pulled the Pars level with his third goal for the club. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Immediately, McCabe made two changes, sending on Lewis McGregor and Gallagher, and the latter scored with almost his first touch two minutes after Dunfermline's goal.

Sharp thinking from Telfer saw him quickly restart play after Airdrie were awarded a free-kick, playing it to McGregor, whose pass across the box allowed Gallagher to lash the Diamonds back in front.

"Myself, I've probably given away a sloppy free-kick, but I think after that it's a quick free-kick that shouldn't be allowed to happen," Benedictus noted.

"I think the boy's taken a shot, it's ended up in the back area, and he's put it away.

"As a team, that goal was poor, especially getting the game back to 1-1. Obviously you want to try, even for 10 minutes, just keep it tight and then go on to maybe go and try and sneak one.

"I thought throughout the game, Airdrie deserved it."

The Pars tried to respond, with Todd, Moffat and O'Halloran all firing off target, whilst substitute Andrew Tod forced Airdrie keeper Robbie Hemfrey into saves from a free-kick, and a drive in time added on.

Kane was also denied by the offside flag as he lashed a strike into the net as the game got away from Dunfermline, with McPake rueing his team's opening 45 minutes.

Youngster Andrew Tod came close to levelling for the Pars in stoppage time. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"When it gets to the end and you're only a goal in it, you know you'll always get some sort of chance," he continued.

"They maybe get a wee bit nervy towards the end, or the game becomes at times a wee bit unrealistic because we've got so many players high up the pitch, but the big thing for me is the first half performance.

"They're a good side, we know that. They were a good side last year, they've been tough to play against every time we've played against them, but the disappointing thing for me is, and I'll watch the game back, but I think I'll be right with one, is that they worked a lot harder than us at getting after us in the first half, not giving us time on the ball, pinning our wing backs back.

"It was two formations matched up against each other. They were better on the ball as well, let's be honest about that, but the disappointing thing for me is the reactions to them getting after the ball compared to us, and the gaps in our team.

"We've been working all week about being compact because they'll play through you. They play through every team in this league if you allow them to. We were just far too stretched, far too open, which is disappointing."