Sean Crighton says Airdrie’s attitude is key as they face East Fife in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Penny Cars Stadium.

 

The Diamonds skipper has been taking the plaudits this week as his cup double earned the club a trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts in the fourth round.

 

The win over Albion Rovers made it five consecutive victories for Airdrie as they advanced at the Reigart Stadium, with Kurtis Roberts and Kyle MacDonald grabbing the other goals in a 4-1 triumph.

 

With his right-foot and left-foot strikes coming after a headed own goal, it was a bizarre “perfect” hat-trick for Crighton.

 

“The most important thing was getting into the next round. Scoring an own goal is never a great thing, but you just need to get on with it and react in the right way.

 

“We’ve been working on our long throws and we’ve now scored a few vital goals from them. I found myself with two opportunities and scored two goals, so maybe you’ll see me up front later in the season!”

 

Sunday’s fourth round draw saw the Diamonds paired with Heart of Midlothian, but Crighton says the squad will deal with that nearer the time.

 

“We’re all pleased with the draw. Tynecastle and Cove Rangers are the only senior grounds I haven’t been to, so it’ll be good for me to play at another stadium.

 

“Obviously Saturday is the most important thing for us now, getting the cup win and getting a decent draw is great, but our concentration is firmly on this weekend.”

 

Third-placed East Fife visit Airdrie on Saturday as the League One title race restarts, and Darren Young’s side won in style when the sides met back in August. Aaron Dunsmore and Scott Agnew added to goals from ex-Diamonds Ross Davidson and Liam Watt before Calum Gallagher grabbed a stoppage-time consolation.

 

Sean is happy that the squad have the right mindset ahead of the match.

 

“We owe East Fife a game, they turned us over at their place before so we need to make sure we’re at it then we can take the Raith game in the same frame of mind. We just need to take it game by game.”

 

“I say it all the time, but every game is tough in this league. A lot of teams will try to go for it here, but winning our last home game has got that monkey off our back.

 

“We’re going into it confident - not many teams will win five games in a row - but we need to make sure we go into it in the right frame of mind, and I know that we will.”

 

Manager Ian Murray added “East Fife have got some very good players, and they can be very dangerous.

 

“Having said that, if we keep doing what we’re doing and trust in each other, we’re in with a chance of extending our winning run.”

 

Scott Gallacher, Adam Eckersley and Calum Gallagher have returned to full fitness, leaving Craig Thomson (arm) as the only miss for the Diamonds boss.

 

Referee Gavin Ross takes on his second Airdrie match this season, having previously officiated October’s 2-1 win at Peterhead.