AIRDRIE UTD

After playing various formations this season, Sandy Stewart opted for a good old fashioned 442 with orthodox full backs, a couple of wingers, and a strong spine to the team. And how it felt good! Recent signings Christie and Lovering operated as full backs either side of McManus and Neil McGowan in the centre of defence. Christie looked ungainly and wasn't looking like he'd be your flying overlapper. What he did bring was and ability to defend the back post, an aerial threat in both boxes at set pieces and, maybe surprisingly, an ability to crack a decent pass forward. Lovering meanwhile looked like a clone of McGowan, but more comfortable by far, in the left back slot. Lovering made better use of the ball going forward than McGowan ever has. McManus had a heck of a task handling the awkward threat of Deuchar. The gangly forward and McManus had a blood and guts battle throughout, whilst McGowan worked hard to emulate the gaffer whose jersey he'd inherited. He didn't do a bad job.

In midfield a revitalised Vareille hugged the right touchline throughout the game, looking to get crosses into the box, and providing a good outlet for the team. Docherty and Dunn were the central tandem. I've been calling for Dunn to player centre mid since he was dropped and today seemed like justification, though a reckless attempted tackle late in the game may have explained why Sandy has been reluctant to rely on him. He's a good player with a lot of attributes, but defending is something he'll still have to work on. For me, Docherty should have been the 'holding' player, but he and Dunn didn't quite click together as a team. With Jerome, Dunn and McLaren all adept at pushing on we need a rock we can rely on to anchor things in there, much in the way Man U have Neville, Liverpool have Hamman, C*lt*c have Lennon, etc. Talking of McLaren, what can I say about this kid? Our shining light had his first start of his career and took the opportunity with glee. He looks to be a very intelligent player with bags of pace and a few tricks up his sleeve. He worked back extremely dillegently to help out Lovering, linked well with his midfield, got in a lot of good crosses (into the danger zone too, not the car park) and made a lot of good runs inside the strikers. And he was in control of all set pieces. For those who weren't at the game believe me, this kid is already our star man. Coyle was partnered up front with Gow. I wasn't immediately taken with this pairing, but looking back there was a lot of good football from both of them but with a bit of work on the training ground there is potential there. Coyle to his credit put in a shift that many players a decade younger would be scared of. He won a lot of possession in the channels and held up the ball well throughout.

The game itself took a while to settle down. Airdrie first threatened after about 20 minutes when Christie tried a chip from 20 yards. Then a succession of corners created a couple of chances for McManus, both of which were cleared off the line. East Fife did have a couple of tame efforts but nothing too troubling for McManus and co. A McManus headed clearance was badly dealt with by Fife defender to allow Coyle to race clear on goal but he dithered too much and was brushed off the ball at the last minute when it looked easier to score. However minutes before half-time Airdrie took the lead when Christie pinged an accurate ball forward for Coyle to bring down and play in the onrushing Dunn to stride clear and easily beat the goalie for a half time lead. Seconds from the break Gow ran from the half way line to play in McLaren but the wingers deft flick was brilliantly saved by O'Conner in the Bayview goal.

Airdrie continued to impress after the break and had a few more chances. Another McManus header, a Coyle turn and shot, and a brilliant cross from McLaren that evaded Coyle and Vareille, could all have doubled our lead. The last quarter saw East Fife try in vain to battle back but McGeown was equal to a fine drive from their no. 7 with about ten minutes left.