Airdrie face Elgin City in the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Cup this weekend, and Callum Smith wants to fire the Diamonds into the quarter-finals.

 

The striker has already bagged four goals since joining on loan from Dunfermline in July, and featured last Saturday as Airdrie triumphed over Peterhead to move into fourth place in the League One table.

 

Calum Gallagher and Dale Carrick got the goals in a hard-fought 2-1 victory, and Smith was pleased to get the win at a tricky venue.

 

“Peterhead is a hard place to go, so the boys were all happy with the three points.

 

“A lot of teams will drop points there this season, so it’s a good win for us.

 

The win took Airdrie into the top four as the first quarter of the league season came to a close, and Smith is delighted that the Diamonds are in play-off contention despite not yet hitting their stride.

 

“It’s brilliant - I think we’ve been okay but we know we can do better, so we’re pleased to be in a good position.

 

“We know we could have a few more points, a couple of draws that we should have turned into wins, but overall it’s been a decent quarter.”

 

The striker netted the goal that sparked Airdrie’s comeback a week previously, having been 2-0 down to Stranraer only to salvage a draw through Smith’s strike and Paul McKay’s stoppage-time equaliser.

 

The 19-year-old was pleased to be back among the goals, and would love another Tunnocks Cup goal to add to his strike in the third-round win over Bohemians.

 

“Hopefully there’s more to come! A wee goal on Saturday would be nice.

 

"That’s what I’m here to do, score as many goals as I can and help the team to promotion.”

 

Elgin City provide the Diamonds’ fourth-round opposition and will certainly be no pushovers, having already disposed of Dundee with an impressive 2-1 win.

 

Callum knows a tricky tie lies ahead.

 

“It’ll be a tough game, they’ll come here and try to get the ball down and play. We’ve watched videos of them and they look like a good passing team, so we’ll need to get tight and make sure we’ve got what it takes to win the game.

 

“The chance to get to a quarter-final is all the incentive we need. Getting to that stage in any cup is a decent run, and it would give us something to look forward to.”

 

Manager Ian Murray is also aware of the threat posed by the Borough Briggs side.

 

“We know we’re in for a tough afternoon. We’ve done our homework on Elgin, watching them last week and getting various reports and pieces of footage from the rest of their season.

 

“They’re a really competitive League Two team, but that’s why we played the likes of Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers in pre-season - to prepare us for fixtures like this.”

 

The Diamonds boss is without the injured Craig Thomson, while Leon McCann and Charlie Reilly are cup-tied.

 

Euan Anderson referees his first Airdrie match of the season.