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Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Airdrie boss says League One title is in their hands, but there's not much room for error

Airdrie boss Ian Murray says the League One title is in his side's hands, but there isn't much room for error.

The New Broomfield gaffer says there's not much between the top teams heading into the last round of games for January, with Airdrie travelling to Firhill to face Queen's Park this afternoon.

Airdrie sit second in the table, seven points behind leaders Cove Rangers and three ahead of Montrose.

But he says the team is playing well and picking up results on a regular basis.

Murray said: "It's in our own hands. There's not a lot of room for error, the win percentage in this league is about 54, 55 per cent and I think we're up about 65 and Cove are about 70, but that's how good the league has been.

"We're only three points ahead of Montrose, so it has been a really hard, quality League One this season in terms of win ratios.

"In probably any other year we'd be top of the league, but that's not the case and we just keep plugging away.

"We keep going - 16 points out of 18 is a pretty good return and I think if somebody had offered us that away back before Christmas we would have bit their hand off."

Airdrie have been playing well and scoring goals this season (John Steven)

Murray says the form the Diamonds are on has been brilliant, adding that it's starting to be appreciated, but they can't slip up like they did on Tuesday, when Clyde twice fought back to draw 2-2.

He said: "We try to take the positives. There are obviously negative ones with the score-line, being ahead twice, and the goals we conceded, but as frustrated and disappointed as we were, our play was excellent.

"We played really good football, fantastic stuff at times, and the boys keep believing in what we're doing.

"But I think the biggest thing for me is that people are starting to enjoy us a little bit.

"I'm certainly enjoying watching the players play, the supporters are really enjoying it and they were fantastic to us on Tuesday again at the end of the game.

"The difference from maybe a year and a half ago to now, with them toward the team is brilliant, and that works both ways of course, because we are entertaining them.

"As disappointed as we all were, supporters included, I think they appreciated it that the second half was as big a one-sided game as I've seen for a long, long time in football, and that's with the greatest of respect to Clyde.

"But again, you've got to give Clyde complete credit in coming back, showing determination and getting a point."

Airdrie travel to Glasgow today to face a Queen's Park side that sit 13 points below in fourth place, having played two games fewer.

Games between the sides have been close, with Airdrie winning 1-0 in December, following a 0-0 draw on September 11.

Airdrie take on Queen's Park at Firhill later this afternoon (John Steven)

Both sides have a penalty shoot-out win to their credit, having drawn 0-0 in both the Premier Sports Cup group stages and the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Murray expects a similarly tough test and said: "They've been very close games, they're a really good team and they've done really well this season, Queen's Park.

"They came up from League Two, they've had to adapt to League One football, it's obviously a different level and a bit harder, but they've done great, I really think that. I think they're a good side, with good players, they play good football.

"I felt they started so well they put a little bit of pressure on themselves from the outside, dropped a little bit, but that happens to every team and I expect a really hard game, like they've all been.

"We've won one in the league, drew through there, two cups games were drawn. so that shows how close it is, how fine the margins are, and we expect a really tough game against a really good side."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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