Black urges Airdrie to produce a final push

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 22:27

AIRDRIE United manager Kenny Black felt his side were on the brink of play-off success at the third time of asking against Ayr United at half-time on Wednesday night, only for them to get another reminder of how finely balanced these ties are as they head into tomorrow's second leg.

Black said: "Everyone knows about our disappointment at going down to Stirling Albion and Clyde in the last couple of seasons, and I felt at half-time the other night, that at two up, we were in with a great chance of finally winning a play-off. I told the players at half-time that Ayr would come at us all guns blazing, but if we held out for 15 minutes and nicked the next goal we could practically put the tie to bed but it was not to be and we ended up grateful for the draw."

The Diamonds manager added: "Credit to Ayr all the same, they are very proud of their unbeaten home record and fought all the way to keep it. This has all the makings of a pulsating 90 minutes and hopefully the Airdrie fans will come out in great numbers to back us."

Black continued: "We have had to pick the players up a wee bit since Wednesday as they were feeling like we had been beaten. We have now played over 50 games this season and they felt more mentally drained than physically drained, but we will turn them round."

The extra 24 hours added to the start time to allow television coverage for the game on BBC Alba, should see Black able to choose from a full-strength squad with Kevin McDonald and Paul Lovering expected to shake off injuries in time to start.

Ayr United manager Brian Reid is looking for his players to defend a lot better in the second-leg tie he now classes as a cup final for both clubs.

Reid said: "Our defending on Wednesday night at Airdrie set-pieces was really poor in the first half and we have to improve on that greatly because we were two-nil down and looking down and out. We got ourselves back into the tie with a great second 45 minutes and in some ways I am disappointed that we did not win the game, but we cannot defend like that again, that is for sure. The momentum in this game had started to swing our way until we had a player sent off late on and things levelled themselves out after that."

The level nature of the tie prompted Reid to add: "This game is now a one-off cup final and that is how we will be approaching it. We will be going to their place looking for a win and we have a good record away from home. Our fans will travel in great numbers and we will be going all out to get the job done."

The Honest Men will be missing Neil McGowan after his sending-off during Wednesday night's first leg, although creative midfielder Ryan Stevenson is available after a two-game ban with Somerset Park manager Brian Reid describing the outcome as "every cloud having a silver lining".

With everyone else fit, Reid can move Willie Easton from the midfield berth he occupied in midweek to cover McGowan's absence, allowing the always-dangerous Stevenson to start or alternatively move Allan Dempsie to left back with Kenny Connolly dropping to right-back.

John Coughlin, meanwhile, is looking to add the name of Stenhousemuir to Berwick Rangers, Alloa and St Mirren as the clubs he has helped win promotion for. Coughlin was assistant manager to Tom Hendrie when the trio of clubs were promoted, with success seen in all three SFL divisions, and he also had a Third Division championship title success with the Shielfield club two years ago as outright manager.

Coughlin would be delighted to add the Ochilview club to that list, saying: "Securing promotion with every club I have been involved with as a manager or assistant manager would be a great feat and it is one record that I really want to keep going."

But Coughlin knows a win over Cowdenbeath will be far from easy with the two sides going into today's game on the back of a goalless stalemate at Central Park on Wednesday night. He said: "This tie is still very much in the balance and it will all be about who turns up on the day. I was pleased to get a draw the other night as Cowdenbeath had an advantage as they had an extra days rest whilst we were coming off the back of an energy-sapping game on a big Hampden pitch against Queen's Park."

The starting line-up has still to be determined but asked if he had the squad practising penalties in case the sides cannot be separated, Coughlin replied: "No, we have not gone that far as I do not think things will go that far, although if they do I have every confidence in our goalkeeper, Scott Bennett, as he has been in fine form recently and has a good record in keeping out spot-kicks."

Cowdenbeath have a mixed record on Ochilview's artificial surface this season, winning three times against East Stirlingshire and losing against today's opponents twice and they, too, are missing a central defender from their line up. Darren McGregor is suspended following his late red card on Wednesday with Central Park manager Danny Lennon likely to recall Joe Mbu to take McGregor's place.

The experienced Derek Fleming is a doubt after missing out in midweek and he could remain alongside defender Kenny Adamson, midfielder Danny Mackay and striker Brian Fairbairn on the sidelines.

Lennon is again asking his players to forget the nerves and concentrate on passing the ball, saying: "This tie is very much in the balance and I would suggest that both teams can play better than they did on Wednesday night when it was incredibly tight. I know what my players are capable of."

"There is a huge amount at stake and Stenhousemuir are a really well- organised team but if we play football like I know we can we will do okay."