Lewis Strapp can’t wait to get back to the home comforts of the Albert Bartlett Stadium, and the Diamonds defender believes Airdrie can raise their game and get a result against Raith Rovers.

Following defeat at Arbroath two days after new manager Danny Lennon’s appointment, the Diamonds were on the road again last weekend, travelling to Partick Thistle’s Wyre Stadium for a televised Friday-night fixture.

Cole McKinnon’s early stunner gave Airdrie a lead which they held until the 77th minute, but a late Jags double turned the game on its head.

Strapp, who put in a fine performance at left-back, was pleased with much of what he saw.

“I think there were a lot of positives to take from Friday night – the workrate, especially the way we were on the ball in the first half.

“Going 1-0 up into the game, we want to start holding on to these 1-0s and obviously end up with the three points. I think we were quite unfortunate to leave the game without a point.”

Aside from an enforced substitute appearance against Queen’s Park last month, Strapp has yet to feature in a home match for the Diamonds this season after spending the early stages of the campaign recovering from shoulder surgery.

“Obviously I’ve been out since last season and I’m glad to be back in the team now, so I’m looking forward to getting out on the home pitch.

“We’re out there training on the astroturf every day. I think at home, even last year you saw it as well, we get the ball down and we play a lot better.

“Hopefully we can capitalise on that.”

Saturday’s visitors Raith Rovers sit second in the Championship table having lost to league leaders St Johnstone last weekend.

Barry Robson’s side will be keen to get one over on the Diamonds, having won only one of the last nine meetings between the sides, but Strapp says that counts for nothing as he and his team-mates prepare for another tough fixture.

“Obviously they’ve started well. I think they play a five and they’ve got Dylan Easton up front, who’s playing really well at the moment, so we just have to try to nullify them and hopefully get three points.

“We’ve got a lot of fresh faces in the team at the moment, so we can’t really look at past results. We’ve got to keep looking at a game at a time.”

And Lewis is hopeful that Airdrie can continue to improve as the new gaffer’s influence on the team begins to show.

“Before the Arbroath game we only had two days in and it was a big change – we were straight onto the pitch and on workrate – but I think after Friday night you can see it maybe coming together a wee bit.

“That first 65 minutes – we want to be able to do that for 90 minutes. Hopefully you’ll see a difference on Saturday.”

As a bona fide hero round Stark’s Park way, Diamonds manager Danny Lennon is looking forward to crossing swords with his old side.

“I’ve managed to see Raith a few times this season, and they’ve played different shapes, so it’s a little toss-up to see what they actually go with.

“They do have very good players, particularly from middle to front, and two centre-backs who win everything aerially. I have identified a lot of strengths in Raith’s side, but also weaknesses that I think we can get at.

“We’ve got to build upon the great things that we did on Friday evening and continue to take them into the game on Saturday while trying to get that little bit closer to getting a result over the 90-minute period.”

Defender Dylan MacDonald has resumed full training after missing the Arbroath and Partick Thistle matches due to a groin strain, while midfielder Alex King is likely to miss another week or so with a muscular issue. Goalkeeper Cade Melrose is a doubt with a knee injury.

Despite the season being in its early stages, Ryan Lee is already in charge of his third tie involving Airdrie. The referee officiated August’s matches at Dunfermline and Arbroath.

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