Charlie McArthur says the Diamonds will be scrapping for every point as they aim to move off the foot of the Championship table – starting with a sixth meeting of the season with Arbroath on Saturday.

Nine-man Ross County's unlikely point at Gayfield last weekend leaves the Diamonds in tenth spot after losing 1-0 away to Queen’s Park in an early kick-off.

Michael Ruth grabbed the only goal of the game to propel the Spiders up to sixth in the table, leaving Airdrie to rue a number of chances kept out by keeper Calum Ferrie and the Lesser Hampden woodwork.

Defender McArthur says the Diamonds don’t have time to dwell on a disappointing result with the Red Lichties travelling to the Albert Bartlett on Saturday.

“We went over the game on the Monday when we got back in, and we picked out the bits that we could have done better. Obviously we all know it wasn’t our best performance.

“For us, it’s just looking forward to Saturday and putting it right – and picking up three points.

“All week we’ve been working hard, looking forward to Saturday, and looking at how we can beat Arbroath.”

There are certainly no meaningless games at this stage in a ten-team league season, but each of Airdrie’s eight remaining matches takes on huge significance with only eight points separating the bottom six teams.

Newcastle-loanee McArthur is only interested in the next fixture, with a huge three points at stake.

“Again, it’s a massive game – every game from now until the end of the season is massive – and I think the fans just need to stick with us, because we all believe that we are definitely good enough to stay up.

“We’re in a dogfight. I think for us it’s just about three points on Saturday and then looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The sides are already very familiar with each other this season, having met three times on league duty and twice in the cups.

Ex-Diamond Nikolay Todorov scored the winner as Arbroath won 1-0 at home in August, with Euan Henderson the Diamonds hero as the scoreline was reversed back at Airdrie in October.

Arran Pettifer had given the Lichties the lead at Gayfield in December, before Jack Wilkie was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Airdrie made their numerical advantage count as Lewis Strapp grabbed a dramatic last-minute equaliser.

Two cup meetings were then decided on penalties as January’s Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at the Albert Bartlett ended 3-3 before the shoot-out went in the home side’s favour, and the Diamonds repeated the feat two weeks later following a 2-2 KDM Evolution Trophy draw at Gayfield.

Having joined on loan in January, McArthur watched that stormy quarter-final from the bench – and the 20-year-old is glad of the home comforts ahead of Saturday’s meeting.

“I’ve been up to Gayfield a couple of times and I’ve not played in either one – but from watching at the sides it is windy!

“I’m glad it’s at home and we can play our way and hopefully take three points.”

With a win apiece and three draws in this season's meetings to date, Saturday’s match is shaping up to be another tight affair.

And with Arbroath on target for a promotion play-off spot after occupying third place for almost the entire season, Charlie is looking forward for another chance to pit his wits against a strong opponent.

“I think every game in this league is a tough game. Every team I’ve come up against, every striker I’ve faced, it’s been a tough opposition.

“For me, I’m enjoying it. I’m learning every week, and again I’m looking forward to the game on Saturday because it’s another learning curve.

“Obviously they’re third in the division, so of course they’ll be tough opponents, but I think we can go out and we can get three points.”

Head coach Aaron Taylor-Sinclair is looking to learn lessons from his previous encounters with the Angus side – and hopes for a repeat of Airdrie’s last home performance, a 3-1 win over Greenock Morton a fortnight ago.

“It’s always a tough game, the guys there have done an excellent job. They’ve stayed in that play-off spot the whole season, so it’s another tough game. Even the cup games we’ve had against them have always been tight, so we’re expecting the same.

“The small moments in games make a big difference. Both boxes will be massive – the last two times we’ve played them we’ve conceded from corners, so we’re looking to rectify that, and then hopefully do the same against them.

“They’ll be coming in good spirits, but we’ve got to try to build on our last home performance, which I thought was excellent – getting back to that chance creation, shots around the box, crosses… everything that got us the win against Morton.”

The Diamonds boss will be without the suspended Lewis Strapp, while midfielder Dean McMaster is expected to miss out again after picking up a hamstring strain.

Aidan Wilson, Alex King and Aaron Reid remain sidelined, though Rhys Armstrong is back in contention after featuring for the Under 19s in midweek.

Referee Peter Stuart has been in charge of Airdrie matches twice this season – January’s 0-0 home draw with Raith Rovers, and the 2-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park later that month.

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