Dylan MacDonald came off the bench to fire Airdrie into the KDM Evolution Trophy round of 16, and the defender is looking forward to taking on Montrose for a place in the quarter-finals.

The Diamonds were 3-2 winners on a stormy December night at Alloa Athletic’s Indodrill Stadium, with Cammy Cooper and Tate Xavier-Jones earning a 2-0 lead before Cameron O’Donnell and Steven Buchanan clawed the Wasps back to parity.

A 61st-minute substitute, MacDonald joined the attack with 13 minutes remaining to win the tie with a precise angled strike.

Airdrie’s reward was a home tie against Montrose, with the Gable Endies visiting the Albert Bartlett Stadium on Tuesday evening.

It’s a quick return home for the Diamonds, who started 2026 with a 0-0 draw against Raith Rovers on Saturday.

MacDonald felt his side could have taken all three points.

“It was a disappointing first half, then I think we went in at half-time and changed a few things and we were a lot better in the second half.

“We had a few good chances to win it, and we’re probably disappointed to come away with a draw.”

The result saw Airdrie move above Queen’s Park, whose match fell foul of the weather, and a point closer to seventh-placed Morton – who last week appointed former Diamonds boss Ian Murray as manager.

Tuesday’s KDM Evolution Trophy match means a break in league duties as Montrose visit for their second meeting with Airdrie this season.

The sides met in the Premier Sports Cup in July, with the match played at Gayfield due to resurfacing works at Links Park. Euan Henderson and Lewis McGrattan put the Diamonds 2-0 ahead, but Ewan Loudon’s goal made for a nervy end to the match.

MacDonald played that night, and the 22-year-old isn’t expecting an easy ride this time round either.

“It should be a tough tie, but I think we’re confident and we’ll go into it in a good place. It was disappointing to get a draw against Raith, but I think we’re all looking forward to it.

“I know we played them earlier in the season and it was 2-1 up there. Obviously it wasn’t easy then, so I’ll be expecting more of the same.”

And although the previous meeting was a home tie in name only for Montrose, Dylan wants to see the Diamonds turn on the style at the Albert Bartlett – something which hasn’t necessarily been the case this season.

“I think we’ve got the home advantage, to be honest, and I think we should be able to take care of that as long as we play the way we can.

“I think it’s about trying to put things right at home. That’s why we’ve got the advantage, so hopefully we can do that on Tuesday.”

Head coach Aaron Taylor-Sinclair says Airdrie will have to be on their guard against a Gable Endies side in good form under long-serving manager Stewart Petrie.

“It’s a team that has been on a good run – they just came off the back of a win against Inverness, so they’ve beaten one of the top sides in their league. We know we’ll be in for a tough test.

“The message will be not to be complacent. Start the game properly and I think our quality will show through.”

The Diamonds boss hinted at changes to his line-up with a Championship tie at Ayr United following on Saturday.

Aaron Reid remains sidelined for the Diamonds, while the progress of Cade Melrose, Aidan Wilson, Rhys Armstrong, and Alex King will continue to be monitored closely.

As in the previous round at Alloa, the match will be refereed by Iain Snedden.

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