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Published on Friday 19 December 2008 21:10

BOTTOM meets top today as toiling Airdrie United host league leaders St Johnstone at the Excelsior Stadium.

It's been a bruising few weeks for Kenny Black's strugglers since they beat Ross County to lift the Alba Challenge Cup trophy in mid- November. Since then they have failed to win in the First Division and their only other success came in the third round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup when they saw off Highland League side Cove Rangers.

Their narrow but costly 1-0 defeat to Clyde in midweek was their fourth league reverse on the trot and has left them five points behind ninth-placed Morton and six behind Dundee, who occupy eighth spot. Having also played a game more than their closest rivals, they will be desperate to take something from this afternoon's game, although that will be no easy task against Derek McInnes' side.

Saints sit five points clear at the summit but have played a game more than closest challengers, Dunfermline, Partick and Livingston, and will be targeting three points today as they bid to shake off a frustrating spell of form. Last week's last-gasp win at home to Morton was their first in four games after three successive draws. However, a repeat of their 3-1 win over today's hosts earlier this season will see the Perth side go into the Christmas period comfortably on top.