Livi v Airdrie

Never know how we're going to do after having a week off, we were on a good run before a free weekend there, and Airdrie by all accounts look shite, after them having a decent cup group stage. If we were playing them without a week's break i'd be very confident of a win here, but that week off worries me.

If we start our usual slow first half and don't concede, i think we'd build up momentum and score a couple 2nd half to take the 3pts for a routine win, fingers crossed it all goes to plan. The optimist in me says we'll win this 3 or 4 nil. Mon the Lions, lets do this.

I’ve never liked Airdrie. Always seem to annoy me for one reason or another, we did acquire some decent players from them over the years though.

What was the decent run? Unbeaten with 3 wins on the bounce with the margin of victory increasing each time? Would be good to maintain that sequence with 4 this time. However, like you I’m always wary of us returning from a break. Based on recent results this should be a comfortable win but I’d like to see us go after them from the first whistle rather than the usual first half borefest.

Auld Nick wrote:I’ve never liked Airdrie. Always seem to annoy me for one reason or another, we did acquire some decent players from them over the years though.

What was the decent run? Unbeaten with 3 wins on the bounce with the margin of victory increasing each time? Would be good to maintain that sequence with 4 this time. However, like you I’m always wary of us returning from a break. Based on recent results this should be a comfortable win but I’d like to see us go after them from the first whistle rather than the usual first half borefest.

That's what i'm going for yep, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, lets keep it going with a 4-0 win on Saturday.

Like others I'm wary after our mini break.Were on a decent run and hopefully that will continue on Saturday.The general consensus is that we're going to scud Airdrie, I'm not convinced personally. We're at home granted and on current form should be winning this.Any kind of win would do me.Not sure what the starting 11 will be,suspect it will be along the lines of what we've seen recently,although Yengi could be back in the frame after his lay off.Any way looking forward to a cold day at the Vale,wrap up well and as always Mon the Lions..

The good news is, i don't think Airdrie sit in and play to counter on you, so we should find it quite easy to get at their goal. Doesn't look like they're much of a goal threat either, scored 3, conceded 13, so i'm expecting them to park the bus against us and score an absolute worldie from 35 yards out.

Their fans are saying they’re soft this season and fear the worst for this game. On paper it’s a game that should suit us, we’re quite aggressive so a few of them might not fancy it. Brandon snapping into tackles in midfield and May harassing their defence should win us a fair bit of possession. I’d like to see Muirhead in for Shinnie for his presence and goal threat. Just hope we go on the front foot right from the start and don’t give them a chance to settle into the game and gain any confidence. Falkirk created countless opportunities against them, we have it in us to do the same.

Insipid first half and the second wasn’t much better. Still trying to figure out how we managed to win. Our two best moves resulted in us scoring but the rest of the time it wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t good.

Nottingham and McGowan were our best players. Shinnie’s pass to Sole and finish off the return pass were sublime.

Let's get it right here. Smash and grab.Thankfully.Agree Airdrie deserved more than what they got.Once again subs made the difference. with Shinnies worldly the difference between the 2 teams.Couldnt see it coming tbf.But credit for that never say die attitude.Were still no where the finished article,but perfectly placed to authorise our lofty position at the top of the table.Newcastle hold the chamions and Livi consolidate.Good day all round.🤍.

Yeah worst performance of the season from us, was 50/50 first half, 2nd half Airdrie were the better team and almost got a 2nd from an exerted period of pressure on our goal. Why we waited till the game was almost finished before bringing Sole on i just don't know, would've had both Sole and Montano on at least half an hour before that. 2 players that drive forward with the ball and create chances.

Really frustrating to see Lawal and Green sitting as unused subs too.

We def got away with one today, was a real slog.

Martindale will undoubtedly take the credit for the subs made.We were shouting at him for the latter part of the 2nd half to change it,which thankfully he did,albeit later than the support wished.Dead right we got away with one there and against Raith earlier.We can't afford to leave these last minute winners be the difference at the end of the season though.Wont happen regularly i suspect.But on the coatails of those who we could potentially overtake..

First half was dire, too many punts up the park and balls into channels. The midfield kept misplacing passes and May got next to no service. Thought we created the better chances in the second half but Airdrie sat a bit deeper and looked like they’d be happy to settle for a point. Why the subs weren’t brought on earlier is a mystery. The game was crying out for Sole’s pace and directness and Smith was on a booking which normally results in said player being hooked. Just wish we’d give the flair players more game time and try to outplay teams rather than trying to outbattle them.

Denman wrote:First half was dire, too many punts up the park and balls into channels. The midfield kept misplacing passes and May got next to no service. Thought we created the better chances in the second half but Airdrie sat a bit deeper and looked like they’d be happy to settle for a point. Why the subs weren’t brought on earlier is a mystery. The game was crying out for Sole’s pace and directness and Smith was on a booking which normally results in said player being hooked. Just wish we’d give the flair players more game time and try to outplay teams rather than trying to outbattle them.

Martindale's post match interview saying he thought a goal was coming, and it would be from our right hand side with Smith providing it. Ironically the sub replacing Smith was Sole who provided it. Why he keeps putting Sole on the bench is a mystery, even worse not bringing him on till the 88th minute.

The game was end to end and Airdrie almost scored, if anyone looked like taking the 3pts it was them, yet Martindale doesn't make changes thinking it's us that will win it with the players on the pitch. Finally gets Sole on and a superb cross field pass by Shinnie to Sole, and a lay off back to Shinnie gets us the winner.

There must be a lot of players unhappy with the amount of action they’re seeing. Barring an injury crisis I’d imagine quite a few would be looking to go out on loan in January.

Martindale also said he thought Smith had his best game for us… I didn’t, I thought he had a stinker. First half he couldn’t beat a carpet never mind his man and second half when he finally did beat his man his cross was never anywhere near anyone. He wasn’t alone though, goal aside Kelly was very poor and hardly ever passed to a team mate. Everything went up the right where Smith was getting nowhere, leaving Muirhead on the left hardly getting a touch but when he did he usually got a corner or found a team mate. May was, as mentioned by Denman, getting little or no service. He did get a reasonable shot away in the first half but not with enough power to trouble the keeper. And where did our first goal come from? Good play up the left by Muirhead and May finding Pittman who shuffled it to Kelly who somehow took it wide of a defender and trundled it past the keeper. Prior made an incredible save to keep us level and the Shinnie-Sole combo to get the winner was sublime from the moment Shinnie picked out Sole with the pass of the match, Sole with the “control” of the match, shimmy of the match and lay off of the match, with Shinnie providing the shot of the match for the goal of the match.