Airdrie slipped to a narrow defeat at Gayfield as former striker Nikolay Todorov grabbed the only goal of Danny Lennon’s first game in charge of the Diamonds.

The new Airdrie boss made two changes to the side which drew with Queen’s Park last weekend, with injury ruling out Dylan MacDonald and Jamie Barjonas dropping to the bench. Lewis Strapp and midweek signing Charlie Telfer were the players to come in.

Former Diamond Craig Watson started at the back for Arbroath while Todorov was among the substitutes.

In a game which began in warm, sunny conditions, Telfer was quick to impress with some delicate control in the fifth-minute, but a vital touch from Aaron Muirhead prevented the midfielder’s through ball reach Euan Henderson.

Three minutes later a miscontrolled defensive header allowed Henderson to hook in a shot from the corner of the box, but with keeper Aidan McAdams beaten, the ball landed on top of the net.

Seconds later Telfer had a shooting opportunity, but his strike from the edge of the box lacked the power to beat McAdams.

Calm defending denied Henderson from getting a shot away after linking with Telfer again, and Aidan Wilson mirrored the feat at the other end as a long ball almost sent Gavin Reilly through on goal.

Dean McMaster’s backheel flick cut out a low cross as the home side began to get a foothold, with Findlay Marshall sending a decent angled effort just wide of the far post on 18 minutes.

Airdrie streamed forward after Craig Ross had won possession with a superb 27th-minute sliding tackle, but Chris Mochrie’s effort was wide of the target.

Arbroath were forced into a couple of substitutions before half-time, Reilly and Ross Callachan succumbing to injuries and making way for Todorov and Taylor Steven.

Marshall saw another effort smothered by Matty Connelly before the break, and a promising attack from Airdrie was ended when the ball was adjudged to have crossed the bye-line.

Muirhead’s thumping free-kick in the final minute of the first half wasn’t far away, and the sides went in level at the break.

The wind and rain played a part in a much scrappier second half, with Todorov’s early long range effort high and wide before Watson headed a Ryan Dow corner well wide on 50 minutes.

Rhys Armstrong saw a shot well blocked four minutes later, with the home side breaking only for Taylor Steven to tumble in the box with referee Ryan Lee correctly signalling that there had been no infringement by Strapp.

Steven had a go from a free-kick a minute later, but it was an easy take for Connelly, and Ross covered well to deny Todorov as Arbroath’s substitutes combined again.

Lewis McGrattan saw a 60th-minute cross deflected into McAdam’s path before Ross got another good block on a Todorov header.

The home side were enjoying more of the attacking pressure by now, but McAdams was alert to gather a long-range Henderson effort on 65 minutes.

A minute later the home side were in front, Dow leading a good attack down the left. After the midfielder’s drive forward with the ball, Ryan Flynn picked out Marshall in the box, who sent a low ball across the face of goal for Todorov to turn home at the back post.

Connelly saved well from Marshall as the hosts pushed for a quick second, before Airdrie rang the changes with the introduction of Liam McStravick and new boys Cole McKinnon and Tate Xavier-Jones.

Xavier-Jones’ introduction to Scottish football saw him pick up a soft booking within five minutes of coming on, with Muirhead then booked for trying to persuade the referee to issue a second yellow following an accidental handball.

Todorov was fortunate to stay on the park after swinging an elbow in an 82nd-minute altercation with Strapp, but the referee decided a caution was sufficient.

McKinnon and Xavier-Jones combined on 86 minutes, but the former’s cross was hoofed clear as the English striker rushed in to shoot.

A wicked Henderson ball across goal found no takers, and there were no further chances as a match devoid of quality drew to a close.

Next week’s enforced break sees the Diamonds with almost a fortnight of preparation before a Friday night trip to Firhill to take on Mark Wilson’s Partick Thistle.