Airdrie kicked off 2026 – and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s managerial reign proper – with a 0-0 home draw against Raith Rovers.

While Taylor-Sinclair had been in interim charge the last time the sides met, there was a new face in the opposition dug-out as Dougie Imrie faced the Diamonds for the first time as Raith Rovers manager.

Goalkeeper Cade Melrose and captain Aidan Wilson dropped out of the side through injury, with new loan signing Harry Stone and Craig Ross taking their places.

Midfielders Cole McKinnon and Charlie Telfer also made way from the side which drew with Arbroath last weekend, Jamie Barjonas and Lewis McGrattan regaining their starting spots.

The visitors were without several players due to injury, but ex-Diamonds Josh Rae and Dylan Easton were in the starting XI as usual.

The first period settled into distinct thirds, and while Airdrie controlled the middle 15, Raith dominated the start and end of the half.

Ross and Dylan MacDonald had to be sharp early on as the visitors threatened, with Stone making his first contribution on 13 minutes as he pounced to gather Ewan Wilson’s low cross.

McGrattan picked out Euan Henderson with a superb pass a minute later, but the Rovers defence swarmed round the Diamonds frontman and the chance was gone.

Henderson saw a 17th-minute free-kick blocked by the wall after Gavin Gallagher had been tripped just outside the box, but it was the visitors who were pushing for the opener three minutes later, MacDonald getting across to clear Paul McMullan’s dangerous square ball.

Sean McGinty curled a left-footed strike over the top on 25 minutes following a well worked free-kick, and Raith captain Scott Brown slid in to block Gallagher’s cross two minutes later.

Jai Rowe went close with a deflected effort in the 28th minute and Jack Hamilton saw his 38th-minute header held by Stone as the Kirkcaldy men once again seized control of the match.

Easton was robbed in the box by Gallagher five minutes before half time, and it took a decent reaction save from Stone to deny McMullan a minute later.

Rowe’s long range effort was off-target on 45 minutes, and in first half stoppage time Stone, Barjonas and Lewis Strapp all had to look lively as the visitors finished strongly.

The second half was a different story, with Airdrie changing shape and dominating possession throughout.

Craig Ross was inches away from netting with a 48th-minute header, and Henderson and Dean McMaster saw passes in the box hoofed clear before Rae dived to claw out a netbound McGinty header.

Strapp watched a 25-yard effort drift past the post just before the hour mark, and a minute later McGrattan and Mochrie pounced on a Wilson error to leave Henderson with an open goal, but the Diamonds’ striker sent his sidefoot effort the wrong side of the post.

Raith’s new signing Andy Winter sent his shot wide on 69 minutes, with Stone handling with ease as a low cross came in a minute later.

Henderson had a chance to make amends for his miss in the 71st-minute, but as he tried to catch Rae out at the near post the ball bounced clear off the keeper’s chest.

A series of Paul Nsio tugs on MacDonald went unpunished with 73 minutes played, with the defender feeling he had grounds for a penalty as the infringements continued into the box, but referee Peter Stuart was having none of it and booked the Airdrie man for his protests.

There were chances for both sides to snatch the points in the final minute as Rowe’s towering header rebounded off the Airdrie bar, with Rae just beating Diamonds sub Jake Hastie to the ball after Nsio had fluffed his passback from the resultant clearance.

A draw was probably about the right result in the end with both sides playing some nice football and enjoying spells of pressure.

A midweek KDM Evolution Trophy tie against Montrose is next up for the Diamonds before a trip to Ayr next weekend.