Arron Lyall wants to end the league season on a high as the Diamonds welcome champions-elect Dundee United to the Excelsior for Friday night’s televised fixture.

It’s all over bar the shouting for Jim Goodwin’s side, who can only lose out on the title with an unlikely set of results and a near-impossible swing in goal difference.

As Lyall and his team-mates aim to bounce back from a heavy defeat at future play-off rivals Partick Thistle last weekend, the on-loan midfielder says a final home win would be huge for squad morale.

“We took a sore result on Saturday, but I don’t think it was one where they’ve dominated the full game - I thought we were still very good in the first half.

“Second half we just fell away, and that will happen when you’ve got such a young squad. If, on our day, we are fearless, we can go and take three or four goals off anybody.

“It’s a cliched saying, but forget about the last game and move on to the next one. When you’ve got play-offs coming up, it’s about taking that confidence into the play-offs.”

Dundee United visit Airdrie knowing that a point will confirm the inevitable, but the Terrors haven’t had it all their own way against the Diamonds this season.

Each of the three previous meetings has ended in a 2-0 result, with Mathew Anim Cudjoe and Kai Fotheringham securing a home win at Tannadice in September before Fotheringham’s double made it a second United win at the Excelsior on Hallowe’en.

Airdrie flipped the script when they returned to the City of Discovery in February, however, Gabby McGill and Josh O’Connor grabbing the goals in a memorable victory against the league leaders.

Lyall played a part in that Airdrie victory after joining the squad in January, and he knows what to expect from the side bound for an immediate return to the Premiership.

“They are a very good team, no doubt about it. They’ve gone and done very well in the league this year, but we’re obviously a very good team as well.

“We got promoted last year and we’re in the play-offs, so it’s about going and showing how good we can be on the night.

“With fans coming down for the last home game, and it being on telly as well, it’s good for us to put on a bit of a show.”

Friday’s match is the last home fixture of the Diamonds’ regular league season, with a trip to face Hampden at Queen’s Park closing out the campaign next week.

Last weekend’s results meant that Airdrie have at least two play-off ties to look forward to after that, with Partick Thistle the opponents in the first round of knockout fixtures.

Squad rotation has come into play in recent weeks, and with Arron earning his sixth start of the season at Firhill, he cites competition for places as an added incentive ahead of the promotion play-offs.

“Dundee United are top of the league, so if you go and put on a good performance against them, it might help you get in the squad for the play-offs.

“Everybody wants to play in the big games, especially when you’re playing for promotion.

“We’ve still got two games in the league, so we need to go and win them - maybe even get third place, you never know. We’re looking forward to it!”

Player-manager Rhys McCabe was quick to praise Jim Goodwin’s side, but hopes for a strong end to the league campaign from his own squad.

“The last game we played, we went up to their home patch and got the victory, so I’d imagine there’ll be a little bit of a revenge point-of-view from Jim and his team.

“Theoretically, if not quite mathematically, they’ve won the league. They’re champions, and deservedly so, over the course of the season.

“Regardless of what team, what personnel, or what mood they’re in, they’re a good side. They’ve showed that in all of the games that we’ve played. They’ll want to come down and end the season on a high, and ultimately we’ll be trying to do the same.”

Josh Rae (head) and Liam McStravick (knee) are still absent ahead of the tie, but McCabe himself and midfielder Murray Aiken are both making progress following calf and ankle injuries respectively.

Alongside defender Cammy Ballantyne and midfielder Adam Frizzell, who were rested against Partick Thistle following niggling injuries, the Diamonds boss is hopeful that he and Aiken will see some game-time before the play-offs.

Referee David Dickinson takes charge of his first Airdrie match of the season.

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