Airdrie 1, Raith Rovers 0: Perseverance pays off for Diamonds, says boss
Rhys McCabe says Airdrie were rewarded for perseverance and their performance in a 1-0 win over Raith Rovers on Tuesday night.
McCabe admits he thought it was going to be ‘one of those days’ where the Diamonds dominated and created chances, but drew a blank in front of goal.
But Lewis McGrattan curled an unstoppable shot into the right corner of the net in 78 minutes to take a precious three points, cutting their deficit on Dunfermline to seven points, and with a game in hand.
It also means Airdrie are on a run of five games unbeaten in the Championship.
McCabe told Diamonds TV: “I thought we deserved it. The level of intensity and energy that we put into the game was too much for Raith.
“We had moments of quality, good opportunities, and I thought it was going to be one of those days that it just doesn’t fall for us.
“Big Josh Rae [Raith keeper, former Airdrie star] had a great save, one-on-one with Ben Wilson in the first half, Lewis Strapp has a shot at goal and Aidan Wilson’s header at the end, and you’re thinking ‘it’s one of those days’.
“I think we deserved the three points on the level of performance we put in, the boys deserved it, and it was a great finish.”
Raith are fifth in the table, four points behind Partick Thistle in fourth, with a game in hand, and they have their own targets.
McCabe said: “They came into the game on the back of a few positive results. They have stuff still to play for as well, they’re not dead rubbers for them. I think they were four points off that play-off spot as well.
“They’ll have been looking to come here and get three points to help end their season on a high.
“But I thought the level of intensity alone, the way we approached the game, on the front foot, aggressive in