Airdrie play-off hoodoo means nothing, says McCabe as he eyes promotion at Hamilton Accies' expense

Airdrie-player boss Rhys McCabe says the Diamonds' play-off final hoodoo is irrelevant and hopes he can be the man to finally guide them to the Championship.

The Diamonds have lost six play-off finals in the Scottish Leagues, missing out in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2021 and 2022, and now face Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton Accies for a place in the Championship next season after a 1-0 win at Falkirk yesterday secured a 7-2 aggregate victory in the semi-final.

McCabe himself has experienced the heartbreak himself as a player in last seasons' loss to Queen's Park in extra-time, but the youngest manager in the SPFL believes now he is at the helm that dismal run can end.

The 30-year-old said: "There's this thing going about that Airdrie haven't won in so many play-off finals but I am not part of that. That was before me, really.

"I trust the quality we have got and putting my ideas forward.

"With a young, hungry group of players, we knew that even with the disappointment from last year, if we get our standards right and we maintain our level of performance throughout the season, we wouldn't be far away.

"I think you saw that from January onwards when our form really kicked in.

"We've been a real force so it is just about making sure we go out there and play the game to Airdrie's way, rather than the occasion."

Airdrie will certainly go into the game on a hot-streak of form.

As well as their 7-2 aggregate win over Falkirk, the Diamonds can boost a 7-0 win over Peterhead and a 6-1 rout over Kelty Hearts in the past couple of months in League One.

However, McCabe insists that is also irrelevant.

"Momentum means nothing, especially in a final," he said.

"We need to make sure we approach the Hamilton game with the right mindset and