Friday the 13th proved to be unlucky for Airdrie as they passed up a host of chances against St Johnstone.

Playing in front of a television audience for the second week running, the Diamonds once again put in a performance to be proud of only to be denied by top goalkeeping, unfortunate finishing, and an errant offside flag.

There were no changes to the starting line-up which narrowly lost out to St Mirren in last weekend’s Scottish Cup match, but January signings Robbie Mahon and Dom Thomas were back on the bench after being cup-tied for last Friday’s fixture and the preceding KDM Evolution Trophy quarter-final against Arbroath.

The league leaders displayed their embarrassment of riches by including three of the division’s four top scorers in their starting XI, with January signing Ruari Paton completing a potent forward line which included Josh McPake, Josh Fowler and Jamie Gullan.

The top-heavy visitors made the running in the opening minutes, McPake seeing a front-post cross cleared by Craig Ross before the Hearts-bound hitman drew a routine save from Harry Stone.

Airdrie hit back through Lewis Strapp’s roaming run, but his pass for Euan Henderson was well read by Morgan Boyes.

Former Queen’s Park striker Fowler had the ball in the net on six minutes, but a tight offside call went in the Diamonds’ favour, before an altogether more obvious call halted an attack at the other end.

Airdrie took the impetus from their early scare, Henderson breaking forward and feeding Chris Mochrie on ten minutes, with the midfielder’s strike held by the diving Toby Steward.

It was Stone who was in action five minutes later, diving to push McPake’s looping cross round the post after it had been missed by everyone in the middle.

Cole McKinnon should have had the Diamonds ahead on 20 minutes, turning Henderson’s cross over from an unmarked position six yards out. The midfielder almost made amends with some neat interplay with Dean McMaster seconds later, but the visitors cleared as the move broke down.

Henderson’s 21st-minute shot was off target as Airdrie continued to press the Saints goal, but it was the league leaders who went ahead a minute later, Paton reaching a Gullan pass ahead of Charlie McArthur and applying a deft finish to lift the ball over the outrushing Stone.

As Simo Valakari’s side looked to quickly double their advantage, Ross got across to slide in on McPake on 24 minutes before Stone claimed a curling cross from Jason Holt seven minutes later.

Airdrie enjoyed more attacking possession as half-time approached, Mochrie seeing a shot well charged down before Jamie Barjonas lashed the loose ball straight into Steward’s midriff.

Henderson saw a 38th-minute strike deflected behind before his free-kick was gathered by Steward two minutes later.

Charlie Telfer’s angled setpiece was nodded behind by a defensive head on the stroke of half-time, but as the corner was half-cleared the whistle sounded.

Gullan’s turning effort was dealt with by Stone a minute after the restart, with Airdrie introducing Thomas and Lewis McGrattan ten minutes in as they pushed for an equaliser.

Thomas almost got result two minutes after coming on, placing a front-post corner on the head of Strapp, but the defender was unable to angle his header inside the post.

Steward got to McGrattan’s 58th-minute through ball before Henderson, with Stone denying Reece McAlear at the near post on the hour mark.

McGrattan sent a curling effort inches over the bar on 63 minutes as Airdrie turned up the pressure, with Thomas seeing a cutback battered behind two minutes later.

For the third weekend running, the Diamonds were denied the chance to score by a glaring error on 74 minutes. As Thomas threaded a pass for Henderson, the striker ran past three visiting defenders to get through one-on-one with Steward only to be denied by the linseman’s flag, much to the chagrin of Airdrie’s players, management and support.

Still the chances came for Airdrie, and Henderson drove down the left on 76 minutes, squaring for Mochrie who could only watch in disbelief as Steward made an unbelievable stop.

The on-loan Portsmouth keeper was at it again five minutes later, blocking a netbound McGrattan flick after Robbie Mahon had squared for his fellow substitute.

Mahon saw his own effort touched behind at the near post with five minutes remaining, and two off-target strikes from Gavin Gallagher saw the match draw to a close.

The tough challenges keep coming for the Diamonds, who will look to add points to performances when they visit second-placed Partick Thistle next weekend.