Airdrie v Falkirk: Diamonds are on a high as they head into play-off crunch

Airdrie player/assistant boss Callum Fordyce says their strikers are flying going into the play-offs and hopes their form can help propel the club to the Championship at the third time of asking.

Young player of the year Gabby McGill bagged a brace and player of the year Calum Gallagher was also on target in between a strike for Diamonds debutant Corrie Fellowes in Saturday’s 4-1 win at FC Edinburgh.

And it was the perfect warm-up for them ahead of facing Falkirk in the Championship play-off semi-finals this week.

The Diamonds travelled to Scottish Cup semi-finalists Falkirk for the first leg last night as the Advertiser went to press, and they then welcome the Bairns to New Broomfield for the second leg on Saturday.

Gallagher has netted four times in his last four outings, while McGill has 11 goals in his last nine appearances so the pair go into the huge clashes on form.

Fordyce said: “It’s always good to get a win and score four goals before the play-offs.

“It is very important when your strikers are scoring goals.

“It is the hardest thing to do in football and that’s why strikers always get the plaudits.

“The two of them deserve all the credit.

“I’m very close with Gal and he has been excellent. Gabs last year had a couple of injuries that hampered him, so to get him a good run in the team this year and get some goals is great for him.

“The two of them are flying right now so hopefully that continues into the play-offs.

“It was good to see lots of boys who haven’t got as many minutes as they probably wanted this season out there playing against Edinburgh well.

“It gives the manager a headache now ahead of this week.”

The Diamonds are hoping to end their recent play-off hoodoo, having lost in the final in the last two