Dunfermline 1 Airdrie 0: McCabe says 'even the linesman thought we should have had a penalty', as Diamonds fall seven points adrift of Pars

Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe claimed even the assistant referee thought his side should have had a penalty in their defeat to Dunfermline - after referee Colin Steven denied the Diamonds a second half spot-kick.

McCabe's men lost for the sixth game on the bounce in the Championship and failed to score for the fifth game in succession, leaving them seven points adreift of the Pars at the bottom of the table.

With just one win in their last 16 games, McCabe feels big decisions haven't been going their way and he was fuming that a claim for a foul on Cammy Cooper in the box was turned down by referee Steven.

As it was, Lewis McCann's 61st minute strike - which was also controversial as Airdrie felt Rhys Armstrong had been fouled in the build-up - was enough to see the Pars take all three points.

And McCabe said: “The big decisions went against us, it’s a penalty. I think it’s Chris Hamilton that comes through the back of him [Cooper].

"The frustration lies because the linesman on our touchline is speaking to us, telling us that it's a stonewall penalty and he's in agreement with us.

“So all we ask and certainly what I asked at the side was, why not go and consult each other, come to the right verdict, which looking back, it's a penalty. I think anywhere else on the pitch, he gives a foul, a clear shove or clear tackle from behind.

“I think if you ask [Dunfermline manager] James McPake and any managers and clubs in the league, the officiating is very poor.

"Not getting the wee moments of luck and the rub of the green is something that you've got to go through, but I think with the way we controlled the game, you could hear the crowd getting on Dunfermline's backs.

"We were the team who started to control the ball and create