Airdrie must use play-off pain as a spur this season, says striker

Calum Gallagher says Airdrie have been through the highs and lows of a play-off, and the experienced players in their squad should use last season’s defeat as a spur.

Having enjoyed an incredible campaign last term, it all came crashing down in the second leg of the final as Queen’s Park won 2-1 to triumph 3-2 on aggregate and seal promotion to the Championship.

Gallagher, who has bagged 22 goals this season, is keen to increase his tally and make sure Airdrie make the step up this time.

He said: “Queen’s Park beat us in the final last season, so we have a lot of experience.

“We’ve been through the highs and the lows of the whole thing and there’s a core group of us who remember how sore it was, so we’ll look to rectify that this year and go one better.

“My record in the play-offs isn’t bad, so hopefully I can grab a couple there.

“We’ve got one more game to prepare us for the play-offs [at FC Edinburgh next Saturday], then it’s a singular ambition for the team, so we need to go and put that into practice.”

A full-strength Airdrie side could beat Edinburgh and finish third, whereas a slip-up and Alloa taking a point or more at home to champions Dunfermline would see the Diamonds finish fourth, and play against the team finishing second-bottom of the Championship, which is likely to be either Cove Rangers or Hamilton Accies.

Finishing third gives them a two-legged semi-final over runners-up Falkirk.

Gallagher said: “There are two lines of thinking; you want to finish as high up as you can, on merit, on pride, but on the other hand, there’s nothing to fear.

“We’re happy to play any of the four teams that are likely to be there, and if there’s an opportunity to rest key players [against Edinburgh] then I think the manager