Falkirk banished memories of their last visit to Airdrie with a confident second half display to take the points and move to the top of the Championship table.

John McGlynn’s side have not lost a league match since their 7-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of the Diamonds in last May’s promotion play-off, and goals from Dylan Tait and Sean Mackie ensured their run would continue at the Albert Bartlett Stadium.

Murray Johnson and Mason Hancock returned to Airdrie’s starting line-up after missing last week’s 3-0 win at Queen of the South, Kieran Wright and Cammy Bruce making way.

It was the Bairns who started the match on the front foot, Mackie sending a second-minute strike wide of the post before Johnson reacted well to save at the near post five minutes later.

Airdrie’s first foray into the visitors’ box produced a couple of half-hearted handball claims, but the Diamonds had to settle for a corner which Luke Badley-Morgan nodded into the side netting from a tight angle.

Nicky Hogarth was out to dive at Ben Wilson’s feet after some sharp passing and movement on 12 minutes, with Ross MacIver firing wide at the other end after Alfredo Agyeman had seen his effort well blocked.

Wilson had another chance to advance on goal midway through the half, but the ball got caught in his feet as he controlled Dylan MacDonald’s excellent pass.

Hogarth held a Gavin Gallagher’s header following good interplay between Wilson and Chris Mochrie, with the ex-Dundee United midfielder then crowded out in the box on the half-hour mark.

Agyeman shot well over after doing well to create space, and Falkirk went closest with eight minutes of the half remaining, a powerful header looking destined for the back of the net until Mochrie’s goal-line intervention.

As the visitors increased the pressure towards the end of the half, Agyeman fired wide and Johnson held a Mackie effort before the keeper did well to save from Gary Oliver, who had been allowed to continue despite his offside position.

The impressive Badley-Morgan denied MacIver with a fine tackle just after the restart with the Falkirk striker volleying over the top of the stand on 49 minutes.

Oliver was next to threaten as the Bairns continued to press, but Johnson was alert to his attempted nutmeg after a good break.

Mackie shot wide again before Johnson’s attempted clearance was charged down, with the ricocheted ball coming back off the post.

Substitute Lewis McGregor picked the pocket of a Falkirk defender two minutes after coming on, but after haring in on goal his strike had too much elevation and cleared the bar.

Brad Spencer curled a 60th-minute corner kick against the crossbar as chances continued to rain in at either end, although the majority were now falling the way of the League 1 champions.

Wilson looked set to give Airdrie the lead against the run of play as he raced on to Adam Frizzell’s through-ball on 69 minutes, but Hogarth spread himself well to block.

Four minutes later the visitors took the lead, a superb point-blank save from Johnson falling into the path of Tait, who curled a well-taken effort into the top corner.

Wilson fed Mochrie on 78 minutes as Airdrie searched for an equaliser, but the midfielder was unable to repeat last weekend’s scoring feat as he sent his strike over the bar.

With 11 minutes remaining, Mackie made it 2-0, finding space at the back post to slot home after a quick move through the middle.

Hogarth saved at the feet of Wilson after failing to hold a Hancock header with eight minutes to play, and a late Graham header went wide as Airdrie squandered the last chance of the match.

The final whistle saw John McGlynn’s side maintain their 100% record on their return to the Championship, while Airdrie now face away games at Morton and Livingston as they attempt to battle their way up the table.