AIRDRIE UTD

Queens

Where do I start? Airdrie looked calm and assured early on but as usual seemed to lack any pace or invention. Defensively they seemed much more sound with Neil – mad-dog – McGowan rightfully restored to his defensive berth. Curiously Alan McManus was shifted to right back to keep Kevin Christie at centre-half, a move I’m still trying to figure out, but unfortunately, the game’s first real talking point on the twenty minute mark removed the necessity to question this tactic, in horrific fashion. McGowan and Lovering, normally indistinguishable from each other, both, on the turn, chased a ball through ball that pierced them. Both players seemed to jump to head the ball at the same time and it looks like Lovering has a broken jaw, whilst McGowan has suffered a possible concussion. Stephen Docherty was moved to right full back, with Kevin Barkey filling in for him in midfield, whilst Willie Wilson was sent on as a straight replacement for Lovering. McManus moved into central defence again. Queens broke the deadlock ten minutes after the action resumed when Brian McLaughlin broke through a shambolic offside trap to skilfully beat McGeown.

To be brutally honest, I’d long lost interest in trying to remember the finer details of who did what during the game. Airdrie had a few chances. Jerome had a few efforts at the back post that he couldn’t connect with, McKeown made a couple of good positions where he drew saves, Coyle had a one on one situation he could have done better with, and Roberts had a long range effort, but all in all Airdrie are currently powder-puff with out the pace and invention of Gow and McLaren. Queens had chances to stretch the lead too, but we had McGeown and a goal line clearance from Docherty to thank for at least keeping us within a goal of the better organised team. What can be said of Airdrie tactically? After twenty minutes of the game we had Gow, McLaren, Hardie, Hoey, Dunn, McGowan and Lovering all missing through injury (Dunn was on the bench but wasn’t even considered to warm up when the head knock was taking place). We could still field 11 players but we seem to have 11 full-time professional players who, in the main, lack any kind of pace. How we managed that I don’t know, but there you go. Remember that despite the injuries we still had 11 full-time players against 11 part-timers who were on a similar level to Berwick, Dumbarton and Forfar were last season. That says something about attitude to me. Queens got on with their game whilst we didn’t. Though Marv Wilson and Barkey had decent games in midfield, their man Bowey (the one who looks like Gunther from Friends) drove his team on. At the back Thomson (an animal if it must be said) kept things extremely well organised, whilst Brian McLaughlin kept tormenting our defence with his pace and trickery. We could and should have done better. If these players can’t be bothered performing then they should seriously have a look at themselves.

Again the question will be asked about Sandy Stewart’s abilities. There was a crescendo, if 1500 fans can generate that kind of noise, of boos at the final whistle. With budgets being tight it’s going to be difficult to buy or trade his way out of trouble. If he’s got a defender in mind to replace Scott Wilson in the squad then there will be no better time than this week to do so. A forward or winger too, with pace, would provide a refreshing addition as neither Varielle, Coyle, McKeown or Roberts have any and it doesn’t look like any of the walking wounded are going to be ready for a while either. At this stage of the season there shouldn’t be calls for Stewart’s head, especially for a guy who is an Airdrie legend, but the manager must now be inspired by the knowledge that all the great managers have had these hard times and prospered after sorting out the mess that their in. He’s an inexperience manager but he’s not daft and he can and will get there. Hopefully…