JOHN POTTER has labelled Kelty Hearts' heavy defeat to Airdrieonians on Saturday as "unacceptable" and "embarrassing".

The New Central Park outfit fell to their heaviest loss of the season as they were blown away by a sparkling Diamonds side, who hit three goals either side of the break on their way to a 6-1 victory.

After a bright and keenly-contested opening 20 minutes, former Dunfermline striker Gabby McGill's opening goal for Rhys McCabe's team set the home side on their way.

A first career hat-trick for McGill, a Ross Philp own goal, a wonder strike from Calum Gallagher, and an effort from another ex-Par, Callum Smith, gave Airdrie a half-dozen, before Jamie Barjonas won, and converted, a late penalty.

With eight games left, Potter's team are 12 points adrift of fourth top Alloa Athletic, with their aspirations of a place in the end of season promotion play-offs fading.

"Embarrassing. Just not good enough, all over the pitch, every department," was the manager's first words post-match.

"We actually started the game ok, but then lose three goals, I don't know in how many minutes, 15, 20 minutes, all avoidable goals. After that, it's very hard to come back.

"We made the point at half-time that they've given away this kind of lead before (Airdrie were 3-0 up before losing to Dunfermline last month). We had to come out and try and have a go but, again, second half, was similar. Just loads of stuff that wasn't good enough.

"We didn't organise enough, we didn't stop crosses, didn't stop shots, allowed them to pass through us, we were pretty weak, and it was just a disappointing day."

When asked whether a failure to do basic elements of the game well enough were the most disappointing aspect, Potter replied: "Yeah, especially when a couple of goals, we spoke about it in depth on Tuesday night about where they came from, and it didn't seem to get put into practice.

"That's up to me and the staff to make that better, and to work at it, because that's unacceptable what happened out there today."

Home player/boss McCabe, who worked under Potter as a player at East End, winning League One in 2016 when the latter was part of Allan Johnston's coaching team, commented: "Any win is good, but the manner of the performance, and I know we concede a goal, and the scoreline suggests that Kelty had an an opportunity, but I think Josh (Rae) had a save from Joe (Cardle), coming inside and he tips it over the bar. I think that was the only chance they created.

"To limit a side who, with the forward players they have and the forward threat, to next to nothing near enough for 90 minutes throughout the game, I've got to credit the defensive side as well as scoring the goals we did.

"I thought throughout the 90 minutes we were excellent.

"It's a big thing in football, that first goal. We've seen that being on the other end of it as well. We know how deflating it can be.

"We had a game plan and we stuck to it. We score the second goal, again, great move, and then the third goal was a real pin in the balloon.

"I looked at the body language of the Kelty players and I just knew, straight away, that we had them.

"For me, coming in at half time with that luxury, was great. Then it was just about setting ourselves new targets; can we go and add to the tally? Can we go and keep a clean sheet? Can we go and be defensively solid, go and put and demands on people, as well as personnel? Can I get some subs on who are hungry to go and get involved in the action when things are going well?

"Gabby gets a hat-trick today, his first career hat-trick, Joe Dixon comes on and makes his professional debut, so there was positives in loads of different senses."