Hibs striker can gain confidence from first Airdrie goal in cup win, says boss

Airdrie player/boss Rhys McCabe gave up penalty duties to allow Josh O’Connor to notch his first competitive goal, and hopes it will give the young striker the confidence to thrive in the Championship this season.

The Diamonds secured a perfect Viaplay Cup group stage record with a 1-0 win at Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday.

O’Connor’s 73rd minute penalty ensured they topped Group E ahead of Premiership side Dundee and qualified as the only team with a 100 per cent record in the competition so far.

A last 16 tie with Premiership Ross County now awaits next month but as Airdrie head into league business away to Dunfermline this weekend, McCabe was happy to vacate his regular role as the Diamonds’ penalty taker to get Hibs loanee O’Connor up and running.

He said: “Josh has been itching for that first [competitive] goal. He had a chance up in Inverness where I think he wished he’d pulled the trigger so I thought the right thing to do was give him that penalty and, hopefully, that kick starts a wee bit of confidence that he can go on and score many more.

“His workrate was great as well. He chases pigeons, as I call it. He chases everything down and I think this will do his confidence the world of good.

“Four out of four is a bonus for us as well. I said to the boys before the game that coming to venues like this, with all due respect, are the games you’ve got to take seriously and apply yourself.

“That was the message before the game. The cream always rises to the top and our quality will always shine through but we had to match their intensity and physicality they would bring, and I thought we did that, even in the first half playing up the hill.

“We played some lovely stuff and just lacked a bit in the final third. We knew in