Forfar Athletic v Airdrieonians preview
31st January 2014
Airdrieonians made their point at home to Stranraer - now striker Jim Lister wants all three at Forfar Athletic on Saturday.
The 32-year-old was on target for the third time this season as the Diamonds held the Blues to a 1-1 draw at New Broomfield last weekend.
Gary Bollan's men will head to Station Park on League One duty knowing they will climb off the bottom of the table with a victory should ninth-placed Arbroath fail to beat Ayr United.
Summer signing Lister is keen to build on some of the positives generated in recent weeks and help close the seven-point gap to automatic safety.
"A draw was OK but I thought we could have closed it out and got the three points given that we took the lead," he said reflecting on the Stranraer stalemate.
"We've not lost a lot of goals in recent weeks, if you take the Ayr United result out of the equation, and we're trying to become more difficult to beat.
"The Ayr game was an off day for us but we are trying to focus on the positives and do feel like we are turning things around.
"We're working hard and there is a great team spirit here. I think we're trying to go on a winning run but staying undefeated is a positive.
"We drew 3-3 at Forfar on the opening day of the season but we should have put that game to bed as we created enough chances.
"It's a tough place to go but we will be confident of going up there and getting something out of the game."
Boss Bollan has praised his players for their "attitude and application" and thinks Airdrie are turning a corner after picking up four points from the last six available.
He added: "I think it's maybe the case that we're defending well and are a bit more organised. Credit must go to the lads.
"They have taken things on board and went with some ideas that might be new to them. It was important to get a positive result against Stranraer after the win at Dunfermline and we got that."
On the personnel front, Gregor Buchanan and Darren McCormack are ruled out as they have to serve one-match suspensions. Grant Evans has returned from injury.