Adama Sidibeh was St Johnstone’s hat-trick hero as the table toppers secured a comfortable home win against the Diamonds.

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair made two enforced changes to the side which beat Arbroath last weekend, goalkeeper Cade Melrose and striker Cammy Cooper coming in to replace the recalled Matty Connelly and the injured Charlie Telfer respectively.

Melrose was in action straight away as Sidibeh attempted to charge down a clearance inside the first minute, but it was Airdrie who had the chance to take the lead a minute later, Cooper finding space inside the penalty box only to see his low effort saved by Toby Steward.

Cooper looked to turn provider as the Diamonds continued their impressive start, cutting in from the left and finding Jamie Barjonas, but after taking a touch the midfielder was unable to get his shot away before a defender poked clear.

Simo Valakari’s side hit back through Jamie Gullan, but the former Raith striker couldn’t find a way through a well-marshalled visiting defence.

Liam Smith got the important touch to stop Aidan Wilson’s pass freeing Euan Henderson on five minutes, with Saints top scorer Josh McPake firing wide a minute later.

McPake was a clear threat coming in from the left, and it took the double act of Wilson and Sean McGinty to prevent a 12th-minute attack.

A minute later Chris Mochrie’s bustling run took him through the home backline and right in on goal, but his right-footed effort was wide of the post as Steward narrowed the angle.

McPake was again foiled by McGinty, and Gullan sent a free-kick over the bar as the hosts began to gain control midway through the first half.

With 25 minutes on the clock the Saints did take the lead, and it was quick thinking from Sidibeh who knocked a free-kick out to Smith on the wing, matched his run and rose highest in the box to head beyond Melrose.

The striker got the break of the ball two minutes later, but a last-ditch block prevented a quickfire double.

Cooper was unlucky to see the ball cross the bye-line as he jinked into the box on the half-hour mark, with Melrose keeping out a downward header six minutes later.

Jonathan Svedberg scooped over after trapping a 36th-minute cross, and Melrose denied McPake and Gullan from close range in the final minutes of the half.

Airdrie’s chances to pull one back on the stroke of half-time were foiled when Steward fortuitously won a free-kick after fumbling a cross, and the league leaders took their advantage into the break.

Cheick Diabate was in the right place to end a strong Mochrie run four minutes after the restart, with Sidibe getting his shot all wrong at the other end.

The Gambian striker was celebrating again shortly after though, stroking home after the Airdrie defence had been undone by a precise through-ball and a clever dummy.

Cole McKinnon fired in a trademark effort from outside the box on 56 minutes, but the shot was charged down by Morgan Boyes.

The introduction of Lewis McGrattan and Jake Hastie gave the Diamonds a fresh spark in the attacking third, but a series of corner kicks around the hour mark came to nothing.

Saves from Melrose denied Svedberg and Gullan, but with 73 minutes played Sidibeh claimed the match ball by completing a perfect hat-trick, firing home left-footed having already scored with his right and his head.

Steward held a late Hastie header and McGinty blocked from Kai Fotheringham as the clock ticked down, and Saints sub Sam Stanton saw a tempting ball across the six-yard box missed by everyone in the final action of the match.

The title chasers were worth their three points in the end, with the Diamonds now preparing to face second-placed Partick Thistle in Friday’s televised fixture.