Jerome Vareille, Stephen McKenna and David Dunn all disappeared for Airdrie to be replaced in a revived 3412 formation by Hardie and McManus. Stevie Thomson was missing for Accies, as was Deek Ferguson.

AIRDRIE UTD

Hamilton

Airdrie had an early chance from a Gow free kick that had McEwan scrambling to touch round his post. Airdrie settled into a 3412 formation for the first time in over a year with McManus in the sweeper role. However Airdrie’s plans were rattled in less than twenty minutes when Lovering grossly over-reacted to a foul by Javary. The feeble Frenchman holding his face like he’d been hit when all Lovering was guilty of was reacting horribly to having his legs trapped by the Accies’ midfielder. Lovering was red-carded for his stupidity. Stephen McKeown moved back to a right wing back role, Docherty switching flanks. Despite having a man less Airdrie’s only enemy was their own woeful passing on a surface that didn’t run true all day, especially with a Broadwood like swirling wind.

Two minutes from half-time Accies got the lead when Cocoran tangled with Christie. With the ball seemingly shielded away to safety the referee awarded Airdrie a goal-kick. The linesman (aided by the home dugout nearby?) dumbfounded the Airdrie team by adjudging that Christie had held Cocoran back. TV evidence seems to damn the linesman. Hardy had his kick well saved by McGeown but the rebound fell very nicely to him to tuck home. Airdrie were furious and hit back almost immediately. A goalmouth stramash resulted in a corner by Gow that was headed goalward by Hardie. Lumsden seemed to save with his hands but the ball landed neatly for Christie to force home the equaliser. Lumsden’s handball should have been an automatic red-card but the referee seemed unwilling to annoy the home dugout.

The second half was goalless and only interesting from a ‘car crash’ perspective. Docherty managed to cause a clash of heads with mad-dog McGowan. McGowan took exception, Docherty kept the slanging match going, and ended with a punch on the jaw from the mental centre-half. Eat your heart out Bowyer! Not long after McGowan was blocked clearing a ball by former Airdrie youth cup finalist Pat Keogh. The Hamilton striker went through the ball as McGowan was clearing and looks to have caused a ligament type strain that left McGowan unable to walk.