Airdrie boss Ian Murray says last week showed the Jekyll and Hyde nature of his side, but everything is geared towards their League One opener against Montrose on Saturday.
The Diamonds crashed to a 4-1 defeat at Championship side Queen of the South on Saturday, just days after a stunning 2-0 win over Premiership Motherwell at New Broomfield.
Murray says that showed the inconsistencies that he’s trying to iron out, but added that it was their third cup game in seven days, having beat Queen’s Park on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Firhill on the previous Saturday.
But he’s looking for a good start to the campaign when Stewart Petrie brings his side to North Lanarkshire.
Murray said: “It was a difficult game, our third very hard game in seven days, against a team from a league above us, and there was a bit of a reality check with that as well, coming off the game against a top league side.
"We were a wee bit heavy legged, but there are no excuses – we didn’t perform to the levels that we want to perform at.
“The positives are that the boys got another 90 minutes in their system and now have a week to prepare for the league opener.
“They’ve done really well. The result on Wednesday was a shot in the arm for us, there’s no question about that, but that’s what it was.
“It was a confidence booster, it showed what we’re capable of when we’re right at the game.
“But on Saturday we saw what we’re also capable of on the other side of it when we’re not right at it.
“That’s the consistency levels that we need to try and iron out.
“But that was our third game in a week and it does hamper teams, there’s no question.
“And that’s coming off the back of last year, so it has been a very busy six months, never mind six weeks.
“The League Cup is great, and it’s important that we try to do our best, but ultimately everybody’s focused on that league and we are no different.”
Murray says a major positive he can take from the defeat at Palmerston Park was a strike by new signing Gabby McGill, following on from namesake Scott bagging the second against Motherwell on his debut.
They also have a week to prepare for the visit of Montrose and Murray is eager to get the campaign off to a flier.
He said: “Montrose are a good side, they’re notoriously hard to beat, but we know we did OK against them last season.
“We know they’re a dangerous side, with a very good set-up, good manager and good players, so it’s not an easy game.
“There will be opening day excitement, trepidation, anticipation from everybody.
“There will be supporters back in the stadium, so it’s going to be good to get back to the league football.
“But it’s a huge game and every club in Britain always wants to start the season well.
“We’re no different.”
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