Cammy Bruce says Airdrie can turn results around by winning their individual battles when Hamilton Academical come to visit on Saturday.

The Diamonds’ wait for a win goes on after a 1-0 loss at Raith Rovers on Tuesday night, Scott Brown grabbing the only goal of the game despite an Airdrie display which saw the visitors dominate the majority of possession.

Speaking after the match, defender Bruce lamented the fact that it took Brown’s 20th-minute strike to kick-start Airdrie’s performance.

“I don’t know if it’s a confidence thing or we just couldn’t impose our style from the start, but hopefully that second half gives the boys a bit of confidence and we should be right at it from the start.

“I think all it takes is just that one goal and that’ll be us flying.”

Bruce was a surprise inclusion in Tuesday’s starting line-up after joining the lengthy injury list recently – and with those on the sidelines requiring recovery time while the threadbare squad run themselves ragged, an extra midweek fixture was perhaps not ideal.

The 18-year-old prefers to look at it as a quick chance to make amends.

“That’s the good thing about football, I would say – you can always put your wrongs right pretty fast.

“Just get it out your system then get ready, recover, go again and get a good result and performance against Hamilton.”

There was a dramatic ending to the match the last time the sides met, on a sweltering August afternoon at New Douglas Park.

Oli Shaw’s double had Accies comfortably ahead in an otherwise even encounter, but last-gasp goals from substitutes Aaron Reid and Murray Aiken earned the Diamonds a 2-2 draw.

Bruce believes Airdrie’s late rally that day can inspire the squad this time round.

“I thought in that game we were excellent in the second half, with shots at goal and attacks.

“I think we’ll have a lot of confidence going into the game, hopefully the strikers can get some goals and get the confidence up with a positive result.”

With no midweek fixture of their own, John Rankin’s side have had the opportunity to rest since Shaw’s seven-minute hat-trick led them to a 3-0 victory over Greenock Morton last weekend.

Cammy is under no illusion as to how dangerous the South Lanarkshire side can be.

“They’ll be tough, they’re just off the back of a brilliant result against Morton.

“Every game in this league is tough, so you just need to go and win your duels and be better than your opponent, and hope that you come out on the right side of the game.”

Manager Rhys McCabe is looking for a committed performance similar to that of the first meeting.

“It’ll be a difficult game. Last time we played really well, but we concede two goals out of nothing – and then the boys show great character to get back in the game. We were the team on the front foot, but like I say we’ve just given ourselves that big mountain to climb being 2-0 down.

“It’s a quick turnaround, so we’ve got to make sure that the boys have recovered and are ready to go for Saturday.”

The Diamonds boss does not expect to have any further injury concerns with returning starters Bruce and Lewis McGregor making it through Tuesday’s match unscathed. Dylan MacDonald hopes to be available after missing the trip to Stark’s Park.

Referee John Beaton officiates his first match involving Airdrie since a Scottish Cup defeat to Rangers at Ibrox in 2013.

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