Airdrie boss defends Callum Smith after sitter as he admits he must cut players slack after busy run

Airdrie boss Ian Murray refused to criticise Callum Smith for missing a sitter in their draw with Queen's Park as they blew the chance to close the gap on leaders Cove Rangers.

Charlie Fox's stunning opener for Spiders was cancelled out by Scott McGill effort from a Smith assist within the space of a minute.

But the defining moment in the game cropped up on the stroke of half-time when Adam Frizzell laid the ball on a plat for Smith to net from six-yards, but he fired wide on the bobbly Firhill surface.

It was the second time in a week the Diamonds missed the opportunity to gain ground on Cove following a midweek draw with Clyde.

And after Cove were held to a 2-2 draw at Dumbarton, Airdrie are still seven points adrift going into a crunch showdown at Balmoral Stadium next week.

Murray will really be ruing Smith's first-half sitter at 1-1, but he defended his striker and the squad after their third game in a week.

He said: "I think we were all waiting for the net to bulge.

"It was a great bit of play, it's pressing high, everything we talked about pre-game about nicking the ball and getting players in the box.

"We all expected that to go in, but strikers missed chances.

"We had to try and get it out of his mind at half-time because these things do play on players' minds.

"Unfortunately for us and Callum it's not hit the net so we just need to make sure it doesn't dent his confidence.

"I don't think it did in the game, because he worked hard to create chances.

"We just put it down to one of those things because we know Callum is a good player.

"It was our third away game in seven days and there wasn't a lot of recovery time for the players.

"The pleasing aspect was that they responded immediately to going a goal down, but