The Stomp - Airdrie lose one-nil at home to Partick 9/8/08

I'm taking a short break from my blog to help Chris out with a match report here, so stick with me, I'll do my best.

Airdrie resisted the temptation to give a debut to new signing Michael Brown though the lined up with an exciting 442 line up with Robertson in Goals, Marc Smyth, Bobby Donnelly, (Big Joe) Nixon, and Matthew Hazely in defence, Steven MacDougall, Stephen McKenna, Kevin MacDonald and (Wee Joe) Cardle in midfield, with Paul Di Giacomo and Simon Lynch up front. Thistle played a 352 formation that didn't include the injured Mark Roberts or former diamond Stephen McKeown.

Airdrie looked good, no arguments from me. Let me start straight away with the strikers Di Giacomo and Lynch. Di Giacomo is the spit of Owen Coyle, and Lynch bears an uncanny resemblance to Alan Gow, only difference is that the former diamonds were lefties, the newbie are right footed. It's like a mirror image. It must be said though that they are different players. They link well together, Di Giacomo is fired up, he obviously is a man on a misson, no doubt wanting to get back to a higher level either with us or without us, an attitude that will no doubt serve us well in the months ahead. Lynch, you can see the underlying quality. He dropped off well and wants the ball played over the top too.

The wingers are an exciting pair. MacDougall was full of tricks and flicks first half but a few times I wanted him to be greedier and home in on goal rather than continually look, forlornly, for help. The same can't be said for Cardle, this boy likes to cut inside and shoot at every opportunity. The pace these boys break is going to be a major asset.

McKenna looked very comfortable in midfield but he and MacDonald were a bit overmatched numerically. We needed the wingers to tuck in a bit more when we were defending. MacDonald has had better games and needs to add a bit more 'dig' to his game.

Donnelly and Nixon are a big powerful duo. OK, no land speed records will be broken but both boys defend like their lives depend on it. How often have Airdrie had two defenders at 6'2" down the years? Smyth was cool, calm and collected and continues to look a class act. I wsa again impressed by Matthew Hazely. Hazely isn't as good a defender as Paul Lovering, that's fair enough, but he's not a liability that way, but he is definitely an asset going forward. A few rough edges need ironed out, there are times and places to take people on, but he is an exciting prospect.

Di Giacomo was unlucky to see an effort crack the post in the first half after Lynch had knocked down a deep Hazely cross.

Lynch was inches away from instinctively getting on the end of a Tuffey parry from a Cardle shot.

Thistle scored on the break from an Airdrie corner. Cardle could and probably should have done better when losing out tamely on a 50/50 challange and Thistle exposed a badly organised Airdrie rearguard with a four on two attack that ended with the game's only goal.

On reflection it was a good game that we should have done better. but I'm not too disappointed considering our promising display. This is a proper team, maybe lacking midfield experience, but well constructed.

I think the defence is capable of remaining tight and I think the strikers will get goals. My only concern is that we were a little exposed in midfield. Whether that means the wingers tucking in a bit more or a slight adjustment I don't know, but this is a team that can grow into something exciting with a bit of luck and hard work.

Dundee won't be easy but if we can keep things tight at the back and organise better, who knows?

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