Raith 1 Airdrieonians 1: We should have buried Rovers in first half, says McCabe (2025)

The Diamonds are now five points adrift at the foot of the Championship with three games to go

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe claims his Diamonds should have buried Raith Rovers in the first half of Saturday's entertaining 1-1 draw that saw them fall five points adrift at the foot of the Championship.

The Diamonds' hopes of pulling off a big result were boosted in 19 minutes when Ricco Diack's effort came back off Jordan Doherty and Chris Mochrie was on hand to fire home the opener.

But the hosts levelled in 41 minutes when Rovers pounced on slackness in the Diamonds defence, with Josh Mullin producing a pinpoint cross for Jamie Gullan to power a header into the net.

In the opening 45 minutes, the Diamonds had an early penalty claim turned down by referee Ryan Lee when Lewis McGrattan went down in the box under a challenge from Rovers keeper - and ex-Diamond - Josh Rae.

Rovers had plenty of opportunities themselves after the break, but McCabe - who saw a Mason Hancock goal ruled out for a foul early in the second half - felt his side shouldn't have given them a sniff after making such a bright start at Stark's Park.

He said: "It is probably one of the best starts to a game we have had this season, coming away from home. As much as Raith are direct, they don't concede many goals and you can see that from their record so the amount of chances we created and the problems we were causing them tells you we were doing something right.

"The disappointment is that we had a foothold in the game and there was a chance for us to put our foot on their throat, but we allowed them back into the game with a bit of sloppiness.

"We got what we deserved. We started the game really brightly and looked like a team that was really taking the game to them in the first 35-45 minutes.

"I was pleased with the first half against a team who has a lot to play for as well. We got our gameplan executed really well and then, in the second half, we let ourselves down a wee bit by allowing them back into the game when, in my opinion, we should have buried them earlier in the game."

On the goal concession, McCabe added: "The pitch was sticky. On another day Alex Bannon - a young player - deals with the situation quicker. He gets caught on the ball and that leads to the pass to Mullin and it is a good delivery for the goal.

"On a surface that isn't is sticky, you maybe deal with that situation first time, you don't let the ball bounce. But that is a learning curve.

"We had moments before that where we could have done much better, but the ball was turned over too many times for my liking."

The Diamonds player-boss was far from happy with the penalty decision and said: "It's a penalty in the first half. I said to the linesman and the ref that if he's not made contact, you've got to book Lewis for diving.

"Even in the second half we had a perfectly good goal from Hancock chopped off. We watched it back and there's no foul on any player."

Airdrie are now five points adrift of nearest rivals Queen's Park with three games to go. This Saturday they host Morton in a must-win match for their slim survival hopes.