Brody Paterson says confidence is as high as ever in the Airdrie camp as the Diamonds face a trip to Alloa.

With both Airdrie and Cove Rangers drawing their matches last weekend, the gap at the top of the table remains at five points as the Diamonds prepare to travel to the Indodrill Stadium - where Cove almost came a cropper last Saturday.

Paterson was a late addition in the winter transfer window, but has wasted no time in becoming an integral part of the side, and the on-loan defender is enjoying his time at the club.

“I’ve loved it so far, all the games have come really thick and fast. I’m hoping to keep it going and keep my run going.

“I’ve just relished the opportunity to come out on loan and really show what I can do. I’ve done well since I’ve come in, the boys have made it really easy to come straight into the team and made me feel really welcome.”

Having made a debut appearance against Clyde just hours after joining the club in January, the 20-year-old was back facing the Bully Wee last Saturday, but was left frustrated as Gabby McGill’s second-half goal handed the Diamonds a draw despite their overall dominance.

Paterson insists there were some positives to take from the result.

“The team as a whole were really frustrated coming back into the changing room after the game, especially getting the news that Cove drew as well.

“To lose four points to the same team is never ideal, but we extended our unbeaten run so it’s not all doom and gloom. We bounced back well from the first half so there’s obviously still positive signs - we go into Saturday with the same confidence that we’ve carried throughout the season.”

Airdrie now face Alloa having won two of the three meetings between the sides this season.

Calum Gallagher and Adam Frizzell were on target in September’s 2-1 home win, before a Euan Henderson double meant Callum Fordyce’s late goal was a mere consolation as the scoreline was reversed at the Indodrill in October.

The spoils returned to Airdrie in December, with Gallagher and Henderson back on the scoresheet, but goals from Callum Smith and Kerr McInroy made it a 3-1 win for the Diamonds.

Paterson has yet to face The Wasps, who recently replaced Barry Ferguson in the dug-out with former Airdrie assistant manager Brian Rice taking charge, but the full-back knows what the Diamonds need to do to get a positive result.

“Just exactly what we’ve been doing the last 11 games that we’ve been unbeaten. We know that all their players will be firing, wanting to impress the new manager, but the gameplan stays the same.

“We know that if we work hard and a bit of luck goes our way, we’re very hard to beat.”

A common belief among the squad this season has been that if the Diamonds concentrate on their own performance, results will follow.

With a last-quarter title challenge looming, Brody says that hasn’t changed as he describes the mood in the dressing room.

“We’re just a very confident group of guys with how we’ve been performing. We know the team’s capabilities and the ability that we’ve got in the squad.

“If we keep our confidence levels high and we believe that we can go and close the gap to Cove, we will. And we’re confident that we will.”

Diamonds boss Ian Murray knows of the threat that Alloa pose.

“Alloa have got good players, it was a hard game through there when we lost 2-1. They’ve got really good players in the forward areas, and good experience in the middle of the park and the centre-half areas.

“We’re on good form, we look forward to the game and the players are ready for it.”

The manager describes his squad as being in “good health” with only long-term absentees Luke Lyons and Salim Kouider-Aïssa still sidelined alongside Kyle MacDonald.

Saturday’s match is refereed by Scott Lambie, who was the man in the middle during October’s dramatic 3-2 win over Dumbarton which saw three Sons players red-carded.

Match tickets and livestream access are available using the links below.