
January 13, 2025
Livingston vs Airdrieonians
Airdrie’s delayed start to 2025 will begin at Livingston on Tuesday evening, and defender Craig Watson hopes the Diamonds can come out on top at the third time of asking.
With heavy snow and freezing conditions hitting West Lothian at the end of last week, the clubs agreed to move the match to Tuesday with a more favourable weather forecast on the cards.
Following the postponement of the previous weekend’s home match against Falkirk, it means the Diamonds are in action for the first time since December.
Speaking before the Livingston match was rescheduled, defender Watson reflected on the Falkirk call-off.
“It was disappointing given the fact that everyone was there, obviously the TV people had arrived, and everything was set up and ready to go.
“It is what it is, so we just get on with it and we’ll see when the game’s replayed how it pans out.”
That postponement, along with the delay to Tuesday’s match, gives the Diamonds more time to prepare and to work on the fitness of those returning from injury – and more time to reflect on Hamilton’s late winner the last time they played.
“It was a sickener, the lads deserved more out of it. It’s the same as the last time we were at Livi, that last-minute winning goal.
“It’s up to everyone – myself, the older players, the coaching staff – to channel that frustration in the right way and continue to look for that result that will kickstart us.”
The frustration felt at New Douglas Park certainly echoed Airdrie’s first trip to the Home of the Set Fare Arena back in September, when a late Andrew Shinnie screamer snatched all three points after Aaron Reid had quickly cancelled out Stephen Kelly’s 29th-minute opener.
The sides met again at the Albert Bartlett Stadium in mid-December, and Stevie May’s double either side of a Matthew Clarke header handed Davie Martindale’s side a 3-0 victory, although the heavily-depleted Diamonds could be forgiven for feeling the scoreline was harsh after a battling performance.
Watson refers to the oft-quoted fine margins of football as he assesses the meetings to date.
“If you look at both the games so far against Livingston, you certainly wouldn’t put the teams in the positions that they are. It clearly comes down to how clinical you are at both ends of the pitch.
“It’s up to us at the back to tighten up, and to the boys in the more attacking areas to be ruthless when the chance comes.”
Livingston’s results have taken a downturn since that December meeting, the Lions slipping to third in the table after losing all three of their subsequent matches.
Craig doesn’t expect that to make much difference on Tuesday evening, and knows the Diamonds will have to be at their best to get a positive outcome.
“They’re going for the title, it doesn’t matter if they’ve had a couple of poor results, they know what type of results they can produce.
“They’ll be full of confidence coming into the match, having two results against us previously. It’s up to us to match their workrate, and hopefully we can get a bit of quality on the ball.
“It’s a fresh game, a fresh approach. We’ve had a few extra days rest so we’re going into it nice and positive, and we’ll channel our aggression and our energy in the right way.”
Manager Rhys McCabe agrees that Livingston’s recent slump in form is unlikely to have any bearing on Tuesday’s contest.
“They’re going through a little lull just now, I think it’s three on the bounce they’ve lost and they’ve conceded a few cheap goals from what you’re used to expecting from Livingston.”
“Fundamentally they’re always strong and Davie’s teams are very rarely caught out with the same mistake twice, so it’s strange on that front – but at the same time they’re experiencing what every team will go through in the season.
“We know that they’re going to be super-competitive, and win, lose, or draw, that’s always going to be the case.”
Referee Dan McFarlane’s sole match involving Airdrie this season was September’s home defeat to Falkirk.
Match tickets are available using the link below, and our DiamondsTV video (subscribers outwith the UK and Ireland) and audio (pay-per-match worldwide) streams are available.
Tickets will be available from the East Stand on the day, with cash and card payments accepted. Refreshment kiosks also accept cash and card. Car parking is available at the stadium and is charged at £5 for cars and £10 for buses.


VS


Tuesday January 14, 2025

7:45pm

The Home of the Set Fare Arena, Livingston

Referee
Dan McFarlane
Assistants
Chris Rae, Steven Wilson




