PARS number one Deniz Mehmet admitted that he was relieved to have pulled out all the stops to preserve their unbeaten run on Saturday.

But the goalkeeper revealed that he had apologised to some of his opponents for his part in a magnificent rearguard action, with two players short, that saw Dunfermline pick up a point at Airdrieonians.

In what had been an entertaining encounter at the Excelsior Stadium, Craig Wighton's 19th goal of the season put the champions ahead in their first match since winning the League One crown, before Calum Gallagher levelled for the hosts a few minutes later.

Almost straight from the restart, Kyle Benedictus was ordered off by referee, Greig Aitken, for a foul on ex-Par, Callum Smith, with the Diamonds forward racing towards goal, before substitute, Kevin O'Hara, became the second Athletic player shown red following a challenge on Craig Watson.

That decision infuriated the Dunfermline bench, with assistant manager, Dave Mackay, also sent off for his protests, but Mehmet and his colleagues, for around 20 minutes with nine men, dug in resolutely to claim a share of the spoils.

Although he was denied a 21st clean sheet in League One, and his 24th in all competitions, which has surpassed the club's previous best record for a single keeper in one season, held by Ian Westwater in 1985/1986, the 30-year-old ensured they are now unbeaten in 22 league matches.

Mehmet, who made just eight appearances last term after being signed in the summer of 2021 by Peter Grant, has played all-but-one of Dunfermline's competitive matches this season, with his presence in goal playing a key part in their undefeated streak, the best since a 20-game run over the end, and beginning, of the 1994/95, and 1995/96 seasons respectively, under Bert Paton.

"There was a bit of relief in me," he said afterwards in relation to the unbeaten run.

"I was desperate to try and keep it going, and I was apologising to a couple of the Airdrie boys there, just saying look, really sorry, but we are keeping the unbeaten record, and extending it just as much as we can.

It has been a lot of hard work for them (the Pars players). I have said it all season; the boys have worked so hard week-in, week-out, day-in, day-out, and it shows there what they do."

The Diamonds, who are now guaranteed a place in the end-of-season promotion play-offs, found Mehmet in fine form as he pulled off a couple of smart stops, whilst they also struck the post and crossbar.

Dunfermline also struck the woodwork early on in the match, but Mehmet noted: "It was a busy afternoon.

"It was a good game; two footballing teams really going for it. I found it was a bit of a basketball game at times, but an exciting one for the fans.

"The boys dug in brilliantly, and all credit to them for their workrate at the end of the game. They (Airdrie) are the only team we have not kept a clean sheet against in the league, but I think it is credit to the boys. We got two red cards, which changes the dynamics of the game massively, as you saw at the end.

"They (Pars players) were making it very difficult for them to break us down but, 100 per cent, they are a good team, and I think they are going to be a good contender in the play-offs.

"The attacking players are not defensively minded, but everyone rolled their sleeves up, pulled their socks up, worked really hard and just sat in. You would have thought we had eight defenders on that pitch, and me, so fair play to them.

"Unfortunately, my clean sheet got taken away from us, but it is going to happen when they are knocking on the door so many times, especially towards the end of the game.

"It was not going as fast as other games are going, and that was a bit of a different pressure, but the boys rode it out fantastically."