Liam McStravick says Airdrie will need to be at their best to beat Dunfermline Athletic, but believes the Diamonds are capable of changing their fortunes.

Saturday’s goalless draw at Queen’s Park left the Diamonds still looking for that elusive first league win, with a home double-header to come this week.

Speaking after the game, McStravick said all that Airdrie were missing was a goal.

“I thought the boys were actually very good today. It’s just that wee final bit, but it’ll come.

“I thought the back four were brilliant. We’ll just try to keep a clean sheet on Tuesday, hopefully score one or two goals and get the three points.”

McStravick’s involvement from the bench at The city Stadium came after a trip to home town Belfast on international duty with Northern Ireland’s U21s.

An unused substitute as Tommy Wright’s side went down 2-1 to Germany last Tuesday, the Airdrie man had starred the previous Thursday, setting up his side’s second goal in a 2-0 win over Malta.

The former Linfield midfielder enjoyed the experience.

“I got a wee assist against Malta, it was a game where they sat off us and we did well. Three points against Malta, and then Germany unfortunately beat us.

“International football is a wee bit different – men’s football is a bit more physical, but in internationals you get less touches, so when you get those touches they need to be quality.”

And although his focus was on his blossoming international career, McStravick made sure he kept in touch with Airdrie boss Danny Lennon during his trip.

“I was on to the gaffer when I was away, just asking how the boys are. He was saying the mood is good in the camp.

“You always need to come in every day and want to improve, want to train better every day. If you do your work it’ll come on and you’ll do well on the pitch.”

Airdrie’s players and fans alike will certainly be hoping that’s the case on Tuesday when Dunfermline Athletic come to visit.

The Pars sit mid-table after an inconsistent run of form, but already hold the upper hand over the Diamonds following this season’s first meeting at East End Park, which saw brothers John and Andrew Tod score the goals in a 2-0 home win.

Liam started that match in August, and he knows that Neil Lennon’s side will be a tough opponent.

“They’re hard to beat, that’s the way they always are.

“They’ll be set up well, but it’s up to us to break them down with those wee moments of quality, and that’s what we’ll need on Tuesday night.

“It’s at home, and we need to win. We just need that wee win to get us motoring – just a wee bit of luck in football and it’ll come.”

Also speaking after the Queen’s Park match, Diamonds manager Danny Lennon was looking forward to facing his namesake on Tuesday.

“I like a midweek game – I like a busy week where you can bounce and build upon how we played today.

“Dunfermline play a basic 4-4-2, they’re basic in what they do but they have good qualities within that. You would always expect that from a Neil Lennon side.

“There’s been a big improvement today in terms of how we performed with the ball – we’re getting closer. If more of those ingredients and more of that hunger is there, it won’t be long in coming.”

Cammy Bruce, Alex King, Lewis McGrattan and Rhys Armstrong are expected to miss out through injury again, with Craig Ross and Jamie Barjonas being monitored after withdrawing with knocks during the Queen’s Park match.

David Dickinson referees a match involving Airdrie for the third time this season. The whistler took charge of July’s away win at Dundee and last month’s defeat at Ayr.

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