Kwame Boateng says the Diamonds are falling short of their potential and must play to their strengths to defeat East Fife on Saturday.

Dick Campbell’s side visit the Albert Bartlett for the first meeting between the clubs since a 2-0 Airdrie win at New Bayview in 2022, with the Diamonds desperate for a similar result to end a run of three defeats and secure a first league victory of the season.

Boateng was Airdrie’s standout performer in Tuesday night’s KDM Evolution Trophy tie against Stirling Albion, but despite his best efforts the Diamonds slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

Speaking after the match, the English defender acknowledged that standards must be raised throughout the team.

“I don’t know if we took our foot off the gas, I just think our defending could have been a lot better.

“We had a few chances to put the game away, and if we took them we would have been able to get control of the game.

“It wasn’t clinical enough, and it wasn’t good enough on both sides of the pitch.”

The congested early-season fixture list gives Airdrie the chance to quickly put the result behind them as East Fife come to town.

The Methil side sit in sixth place in League 1, three points ahead of the Diamonds, and Boateng says his side must make home advantage count as they look to move up the table.

“We want to make the home ground a fortress, and we definitely need to get that first win as soon as possible.

“I feel like we know we’re good enough players, so we just need to look at what we’re good at and put that into play.”

With six Airdrie appearances since joining in the summer, Boateng is settling in well to life in Scotland – and having covered every blade of grass in midweek, the man of many clubs knows that his versatility is an asset.

“I’d definitely say that’s one of my strengths. I don’t mind playing anywhere, as long as it helps the team – wherever the gaffer wants to play me!

“I’m really enjoying it, I’m just raring to go and want to get that first win.”

Having spent his entire career in England, Kwame has no prior experience of Saturday’s opponents – but he knows that East Fife won’t make things easy for the Diamonds.

“I expect them to be physical, and I expect it to be a difficult game as it’s a tough league – but we’re more than capable of getting the three points.

“I feel like we don’t get easy goals, so we need to cut them out. It’s a new team, so with each game and every day we’re getting to know each other more.

“I feel like it’s definitely going to click.”

Also speaking after Tuesday’s match, head coach John Rankin wants more from him side as they face another tough encounter.

“It’s an experienced side coming here, doing all the dirty side of the game really well and wanting to win the battle. It’s a Dick Campbell team, and everybody knows what you get from a Dick Campbell team.

“They’ll come here on Saturday and we’ll need to be aggressive in both boxes. We’ll need to be far more improved than what we were tonight. It’s a chance for the players to respond very quickly.”

The Diamonds boss welcomes Callum Burnside back to his squad after the cup-tied loanee missed Tuesday’s match, while the condition of Ruairidh Adams, Mason Chisholm, Gavin Gallagher, Cole McKinnon, Zac Butterworth and Dapo Mebude continues to be monitored ahead of Saturday.

Airdrie were unbeaten under referee Peter Stuart last season, drawing three times and winning once in the four matches overseen by the whistler.

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