Dunfermline 2 Airdrie 1: Diamonds defeated as Pars come from behind in Championship opener

Airdrieonians started life in the Championship with a narrow defeat after letting a lead slip at 10-man Dunfermline.

The Diamonds couldn't dampen Dunfermline's flag day on a soaking summer's day in Fife, despite taking the lead through Craig Watson, who saw his opener overturned by a Ewan Otto header and a stunning Paul Allan strike.

The Pars unfurled the League One champions flag after finishing streets ahead of the fellow promoted side last season, but this was yet another close contest after three draws between the sides last term.

Dunfermline ended the game with 10 men after Rhys Breen saw red for a second bookable offence late on, but the Pars held out for all three points in front of almost 5,000 inside East End Park.

The Diamonds were forced into a big change between the sticks before kick-off as No.1 Josh Rae dropped out through suspension, and Josh Clarke had to be drafted in on an emergency loan from Celtic.

Clarke was one of three changes from last week's Viaplay Cup win over Bonnyrigg, with Murray Aiken falling to the bench. And there was no Nikolay Todorov against his old side, following an injury against Rose last week, as Lewis McGregor and Adam Frizzell came into the starting line-up.

Clarke was forced into some early action inside the third minute when the hosts cut the Diamonds open and a low drive from his Celtic youth team-mate Ewan Otoo was kept out.

Airdrie came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the seventh minute when Aaron Taylor-Sinclair's pinpoint delivery picked out Josh O'Connor in the box. He nudged the ball back for Frizzell to strike, and his effort with the outside of the boot hit the outside of the post.

O'Connor was cruelly cut down by Rhys Breen in 14 minutes as he tried to break