Gabby McGill returned to the starting line-up with a bang against Dundee United, and the striker is looking forward to what could be a thrilling match-up with Queen’s Park on Saturday.

Airdrie secured a 2-0 victory at Tannadice on Tuesday night, with McGill netting a fantastic header to open the scoring after a spell out with a knee injury.

Speaking after the match, the English forward praised his side’s performance after a well deserved win over the league leaders.

“First, I thought the team were excellent. It shows what we can do when we’re on it.

“I think we played really well first half, but we came in at half-time and said if we sharpened up a little bit in the final third, then it could turn around - and that’s what happened in the second half.

“I thought we pressed really well, we were in their faces the whole game, and we got the rewards at the end.”

The goal was McGill’s first since bagging a double against Rangers B in the SPFL Trust Trophy in November, with the striker facing a gradual reintroduction to the side after sustaining knee ligament damage.

The 23-year-old showed typical modesty when asked about his flawless headed finish.

“It felt really good - it was one of them where everything went in slow-motion!

“The gaffer’s been banging on about strikers staying between the sticks, and when you’ve got the quality that Charlie Telfer’s got out wide… it’s not that I couldn’t miss, I think it was an alright header, but everything worked well.”

While the Diamonds were upsetting the title favourites on their own patch, Queen’s Park were also racking up an impressive result as they slammed six past Arbroath without reply.

The sides go head to head at the Excelsior on Saturday, and while Airdrie’s schedule continues at relentless pace, McGill says the game can’t come quick enough after Tuesday’s result.

“From a player’s point of view it’s brilliant, the more games the better!

“Sometimes if you’re on a little bit of a losing run, you can get into the habit of not playing well or making mistakes, but off the back of this you just want games thick and fast.”

It’s been a season of change for Queen’s Park, who will face Airdrie for the third time this season with a third different manager in the dug-out.

The sides first met in October in a televised match at the Excelsior with Robin Veldman leading the Spiders to a 1-1 draw, Jack Turner equalising Calum Gallagher’s first-half strike.

Veldman left the club in December, with fellow Dutchman Paul Nuijten taking temporary charge as Airdrie visited Hampden for a dramatic late win in the final fixture of 2023. Dom Thomas’s penalty-kick had given the Glasgow side the lead, only for Mason Hancock to level before Nikolay Todorov grabbed the winner three minutes into stoppage time.

Queen’s Park have subsequently appointed former St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson, and have seen an upturn in results - culminating in Tuesday’s astonishing 6-0 scoreline.

With both teams on a high after impressive win, Gabby says Saturday’s match could be a thriller.

“It’s two teams coming off the back of a couple of really good results, so I’m sure it’ll be an entertaining game.

“We’ll rest, recuperate and do our homework - whether that’s more tactical stuff on what they’re doing or tactical stuff of our own, we’ll go into it with utmost confidence.”

Player-manager Rhys McCabe expects the usual close encounter with the Hampden men.

“It’s a quick turnaround from Tuesday, but we’re excited for another game off the back of a great result.

“Queen’s Park had a good result in midweek too, and they’ll be looking to follow that up. The games so far between us have been very tight, and we’re expecting more of the same on Saturday.”

Midfielder Murray Aiken and Lewis McGregor remain sidelined with ankle problems, and the management are awaiting test results to determine the extent of Mason Hancock’s knee injury after the defender was withdrawn from Tuesday night’s match.

Referee Willie Collum returns to the Excelsior for his second Airdrie match of the season, the first being December’s 0-0 draw with Greenock Morton.

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