Airdrie spurned the chance to move off the foot of the Championship table as the Diamonds went down 1-0 to Ayr United.

With the late call-off of Queen’s Park’s meeting with Ross County last night, victory would have seen Airdrie leapfrog both teams, albeit having played a game more, but Mark McKenzie’s first half strike put paid to that as the Diamonds were unable to break down a stuffy Ayr side.

Lewis Strapp, returning from suspension, replaced stand-in left-back Craig Ross in the only change to the side which won 3-0 at Raith Rovers last weekend, though the bench was boosted by the return of Dylan MacDonald and Liam McStravick.

Scott Brown shuffled the pack after five matches without a win for his side, with 20-year-old Liam Russell the most prominent change as he replaced the experienced David Mitchell in goal.

The first chances for either side came within seconds of each other, Sean McGinty’s fourth-minute head-flick cleared before it could be tucked away, with Ayr breaking at speed but finding no way through to goal as the home defence got back into position.

Euan Henderson sent a curling effort just past the top corner of the goal frame on seven minutes, and Strapp blocked well from McKenzie after a square pass from Jamie Murphy.

Henderson was almost presented with an open goal after Russell completely missed Chris Mochrie’s ninth-minute cross, but the striker’s run took him beyond the path of the ball.

Four minutes later Russell smothered the loose ball after a thrusting Lewis McGrattan run almost had the midfielder through one-on-one.

With both teams looking to control possession and press off the ball, there was a degree of the sides cancelling each other out until McKenzie struck on 19 minutes, Ethan Walker the architect with a good run and cutback which left his team-mate with a simple finish.

Russell was out of his box sharply as Aidan Wilson sent a searching ball forward for Strapp, the Ayr keeper reacting quickly to head clear.

Rus went close with a 32nd-minute effort before Russell did well to tip a netbound Henderson free-kick over the top two minutes later. From the resultant corner the Diamonds almost forced an own goal, but the ball was headed off the line.

Leon King headed wide from a setpiece delivery with four minutes of the half remaining, with Rus then seeing his effort forced wide after Cade Melrose had misplaced a pass. On the stroke of half-time the Romanian winger was booked for a pull-back on Jamie Barjonas.

Some neat passing two minutes after the restart ended with McGrattan's strike bundled behind for a corner, but the Diamonds were forced into a change two minutes later, influential midfielder Dean McMaster pulling up with a groin strain and making way for Charlie Telfer.

Rus saw his second yellow, and the inevitable subsequent red, for a tug at Strapp on 59 minutes, referee Sean Murdoch left with no option after the wide man had committed a second bookable offence almost identical to his first.

The reduction in numbers proved to be more of a disadvantage to Airdrie, who had been finding success with their forward passing early in the half, but with a lead to protect the visitors were able to sit deep and defend.

McGrattan curled a 63rd-minute effort wide with Gavin Gallagher firing well over two minutes later.

The Diamonds continued to be frustrated as time after time passes, crosses and shots were blocked by the packed Ayr defence.

The introduction of McStravick did nothing to change Airdrie’s fortunes, though the midfielder’s willingness to drive into the box provided a spark of hope.

As the clock ticked down with the visitors taking as much time as possible over every setpiece and substitution, Henderson sent a long-range effort high and wide of the target on 81 minutes.

Three minutes later the Diamonds’ top scorer drove a powerful effort straight into the head of a defender.

Substitute Tate Xavier-Jones was unable to break clear as he tussled with Russell and Kevin Holt, and Ayr thumped clear again as Henderson tried to make space to shoot in stoppage time.

As the referee continued to add on the minutes Ayr had wasted, McStravick saw a shot charged down before a last-gasp Cammy Cooper effort was deflected into the arms of Russell, with the final whistle following seconds later.

A frustrating afternoon for Airdrie, who were unable to build on last week’s result ahead of a break in the William Hill Championship action.

Hamilton Academical are next week’s visitors as the Diamonds’ Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup campaign gets underway with a local derby in the third round.