New signing Brian Prunty made his home debut up front. Fraser Coyle dropped to the bench with David Dunn, whilst Willie McLaren and Stephen McKenna came into the starting XI at their expense. St. Johnstone had new signing Scotland upfront in place of Dobbie, whilst Anderson returned to their defence with Mensing moving into midfield. Owen Coyle patrolled the Saints’ dugout.

AIRDRIE UTD

St. Johnstone

A few things were pretty obvious about St. Johnstone from the start. They had a big defence who’d be hard to pummel but could be outpaced and out-thought. They were solid and unthreatening from midfield. They had a couple of forwards who carried a significant goal threat in the shape of Jason Scotland and Steven Milne. Predictable is the word I’m looking for. The challenge for Airdrie was simple, if we could stop their forwards and get behind their defence we’d have a chance. Easier said than done admittedly.

In order to get the better of Coyle, Sandy matched their 352 formation by playing McKenna as our right sided centre-half with McManus sweeping and McGowan on the left of the three. Young Stephen MacDougall was adventurously placed at right wing back (surely Sandy Stewart’s most cavalier move ever?) with Paul Lovering on the left wing. In central midfield Stephen McKeown was flanked on the right by Stephen Docherty and surprisingly Willie McLaren, with Prunty and McPhee charged with getting behind big crazy legs James and the brutal Campbell. The formation worked a trick on many levels. McKenna looked ultra composed in defence and McManus was better positioned to control his back line. MacDougall, the revelation of this season, was absolutely tremendous on the right flank, and Willie McLaren had his best game in donkeys playing ‘in one’. McLaren’s pace gave us a new dimension in midfield when breaking free of the baldy assassins Mensing and Sheridan.

However, our early bliss was shattered mid-way through the half when it seemed the entire team switched off at a Saints throw-in and allowed Scotland to turn and thunder a ‘goal of the season’ beyond Hollis. The question has to be asked as to who was picking him up though in our Achilles area just in front of the left side of our defence. What would we give for a young Kenny Black or Sammy Conn to be defending that area? We’d probably only lose 10 goals a season.

Anyway, rather than wallow in self pity, Airdrie fired straight back. Within a couple of minutes Brian McPhee was brought down by Paston in Saints goalmouth after getting behind the goalie from McKeown's defence splitting pass. Stephen McKeown showed leadership quality by forcefully demanding the ball for the resulting spot-kick which he confidently despatched by Paston to deservedly equalise.

Airdrie continued to dominate play after drawing level. MacDougall was playing like and out-and-out winger, McLaren was threatening from midfield, the defence were on top despite some real danger from Milne and Scotland, but most notably Stephen McKeown was completely dominating the midfield. For those not there, imagine Marvyn Wilson could actually pass the ball. You’re getting there. Highlight of the half was a 20-odd yard shot from Prunty that beat 6’5” New Zealand International goalie Paston all ends up only to crack the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Airdrie took the lead from a McLaren corner. Lovering got his head to it, the ball dropped for Prunty who was back to goal but excellently turned to fire home his first goal as a Diamond. Twigg replaced McPhee and actually looked like a better fit than the veteran he replaced. The killer third goal came courtesy of the previously quite Stephen Docherty. Doc made a powerful run from midfield that saw him just keep on running through the heart of the Saint’s defence and eventually round the goalie, but he just ran out of space and managed to stop the ball on the bye-line. Prunty was onto the ball like a flash and cut it back for Twiggy who unceremoniously headed in his first competitive goal as an Airdrieonian.

Unfortunately this silver lining of a performance had a grey cloud. The impressive Willie McLaren went down clutching his right calf in what initially looked like a bad cramp but didn’t seem to respond to treatment. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ll be saying a prayer that it isn’t a serious injury. Ironically his replacement David Dunn had his most impressive performance for ages too.