Jamie Barjonas says Airdrie owe the fans a performance after a winless first quarter, and the midfielder believes victory over Queen’s Park could be the springboard to a huge week for the Diamonds.

A 4-1 defeat at Arbroath last Saturday saw the Spiders slip to ninth in the William Hill Championship table as Ross County moved above Sean Crighton’s side on goal difference.

Meanwhile Airdrie had a weekend off after their scheduled match against Dunfermline Athletic was postponed due to international call-ups.

Barjonas isn’t convinced that the break was a welcome one.

“It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, when you get a bad result you’d rather just get right back into the games.

“It has given us time to get back out on the pitch and work on different things with the gaffer. We’ve obviously had the break now, and we’re raring to go and get into a three-game week.”

That week could prove pivotal for the Diamonds, with big games against Dunfermline and Arbroath coming hot on the heels of Saturday’s meeting with Queen’s Park.

The sides met at The Albert Bartlett Stadium in August, with Tyrece McDonnell netting an 80th-minute leveller for the visitors after Euan Henderson’s free-kick had given Airdrie the lead early in the second half.

As the Diamonds begin the second quarter with another match against the Spiders, Barjonas feels he knows what to expect from the Southside team.

“They’re a good footballing side, I think Queen’s Park are renowned for that. In the last game we were unlucky to lose the goal late on, I think it’s probably a game we should have won.

“It’ll be a tough game, but it should be a good game. We’ll be looking to implement the things that we’ve been working on in the last couple of weeks with the time off, so hopefully we can go and get a result and start a wee run.”

The match will take place in very different surroundings to recent Queen’s Park home ties, with the club vacating Hampden Park to move round the corner to the revamped Lesser Hampden, now renamed The city Stadium.

Although on a vastly smaller scale, Barjonas expects the ‘new’ stadium to live up to its larger counterpart’s reputation.

“I hear the facilities are really good, they’ve got a top class pitch and changing rooms. It’s a shame not to be playing at Hampden, but I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference.

“It’s a game on a good pitch between two sides who like to play football, so it should be fine.”

Jamie is brutally honest when it comes to his assessment of Airdrie’s disappointing first quarter – and the importance of three points on Saturday.

“The season hasn’t been good enough so far, we all know that. We’ve not performed, we’ve not managed enough positive results – but I think the way we look at is that the first quarter is gone.

“Forget about that, start the new one with a positive mindset. Like I say, we’ve got a three-game week now, there’s no reason we can’t pick up three really good results which will kick us on.

“I think I speak on behalf of the boys when I say we want it more than anyone. Hopefully we can get a good result and put on a performance for the fans, because I think they definitely deserve it after the start to the season that we’ve had.”

Diamonds boss Danny Lennon is pleased to see progress on the training ground as his relationship with the playing squad continues to develop.

“The boys are getting to know me and the way I work, and likewise I’m learning about them. That takes time, and it has been a little bit frustrating – I hear that, and I feel for the fans.

“We’re doing everything in our power to get to that level that I know the players are capable of on a more consistent basis, and if we do that we’ll give ourselves every chance.

“Facing our closest competitors is certainly something that can kickstart our season, and it’s very important that we go and take something from the game.

“We know it’ll be a tough task, we know how organised Queen’s Park are and we know there will be a fighting spirit there. We’ve got to match that, and we’ve got to make sure that we put more of a stamp on the game and impose our qualities.”

The manager confirmed that Dylan MacDonald and Chris Mochrie have resumed light training this week, and both will be given every chance to be involved.

Lewis McGrattan was withdrawn at half-time after suffering a muscle strain against old club Morton, and the midfielder will sit out Saturday’s match alongside Rhys Armstrong, Alex King and Cammy Bruce. Captain Aidan Wilson is also a doubt with a knee knock.

Colin Steven is in charge of a match featuring the Diamonds for the first time this season. The referee officiated last season’s November defeat at Dunfermline, and the 5-1 Scottish Cup away win over Dumbarton.

Airdrie’s allocation of match tickets have sold out, but DiamondsTV video (subscribers outwith the UK and Ireland) and audio (pay-per-match worldwide) streams are available.

Supporters are reminded that allocated seating is in place, and drums, megaphones and musical instruments will not be permitted inside the stadium.

Refreshment kiosks accept cash and card payments, and the stadium bar is open to home and away supporters from 12:30pm until kick-off, and again after the match.

Supporters buses should enter via Cathcart Road and use the blue car park.