Lewis McGrattan expects an entertaining match-up when Airdrie travel to face Ayr United in Friday evening’s televised Championship encounter.

The Somerset Park side held something of a hoodoo over the Diamonds last season, winning all four league encounters despite finishing in seventh place – three positions below the promotion play-off participants.

Both sides have seen a number of personnel changes over the summer, so it’s very much a clean slate going in to Friday’s fixture.

One of Airdrie’s new faces is midfielder McGrattan, who joined from Greenock Morton in June. The 23-year-old is settling in well at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.

“I already knew most of the boys coming in, so that helps things. It’s not as if you’ve got a team full of new boys that don’t really know each other.

“I’m loving it. It’s everything that I wanted it to be, coming here. The boys and the staff have been brilliant – I can’t really say enough, I’m just really enjoying it!”

McGrattan played his part in the Diamonds’ opening day win over Raith Rovers, an array of accurate passes helping his new side to a 1-0 home win.

Airdrie hit the road for the first time in the new campaign this weekend, travelling west to take on Scott Brown’s Ayr United and hoping to turn round recent poor results against the Honest Men.

McGrattan is keen to build momentum following last weekend’s impressive beginning.

“We’re looking forward to it, obviously we come in on good form after Saturday. I thought that was a really good performance from us, a good start – but Friday will be a completely different game.

“Ayr are a good side. They’ve recruited well in the summer, so it’ll be a tough game.

“It’s two good teams who will probably fancy themselves to do quite well this season, so I think it’s got the makings of a really good, exciting game.”

Ayr were also busy in the transfer market over the summer, and the physicality of McGrattan’s ex-Morton team-mate George Oakley alongside Anton Dowds makes for a powerful frontline.

Airdrie’s recent recruit believes the Diamonds have already shown they are up for the battle.

“I think that’s going to be key. Games can be physical at times, so we need to stand up to that when it happens.

“It’s not just always going to be the nice, pretty, attractive football that we want to play, but we showed on Saturday that we can step up and mix it, so we’ll just need to do more of the same.”

And with the Championship looking to be a tighter race than ever, Lewis is eager to get points on the board early.

“It’s a long season and nothing’s going to be dictated just now, but a good start could be crucial.

“We saw that last season with the teams that went on a good run, it stood them in good stead for the rest of the season, so hopefully we can do that.”

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe expects both sides to be giving their all to maintain their perfect starts.

“We’re going away from home first and foremost, so it’ll be a difficult task. Ayr picked up a positive result in their first game and they’ve made a few additions as well over the summer, so we know it’s going to be a tough game.

“There’s been a good bit of progression from them if you look in terms of where they finished last year. I think you can see the ideas that Scott and his staff want to put on to the team. They’ll be a good side, they’ll be tough to beat this season.

“Likewise, we’re also going into the game full of confidence, and hopefully it sets us up for a good entertaining game on Friday.”

Liam McStravick continues to miss out for the Diamonds, as does Lewis McGregor who will be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain. Adam Frizzell (leg) and Aaron Reid (ankle) both hope to be in contention after recovering well from knocks.

Referee Calum Scott was in charge of two Airdrie matches last season, both in Inverness – October’s 1-0 loss and the 0-0 draw in March.

Match tickets are available using the link below. As the game is being broadcast live on BBC Scotland there will be no DiamondsTV stream, but full highlights will be available as usual.