Airdrie 0 Morton 1: Diamonds fall to 20th defeat of season in lacklustre showing (2025)

The relegation-threatened Diamonds couldn't find a way past Morton

Airdrieonians fell to their 20th defeat of the season after they were edged out by Morton in a lacklustre display.

Relegation-threatened Diamonds went down to Tomi Adeloye's first-half strike in a 1-0 win for the visitors at New Broomfield.

A 15-point deduction for Hamilton Accies ahead of the game gave the Diamonds a huge boost in their Championship survival bid, lifting them off the foot of the table and into the relegation play-off spot.

But that now seems the best they can hope for with eighth-place Queen's Park sitting six points clear with six to play for, and the Spiders holding a superior goal difference of +12.

With Hamilton's punishment the subject of an appeal, the threat of automatic relegation still remains with only two games remaining, despite Airdrie now sitting seven points clear of rock-bottom Accies, who have been unofficially 'relegated' after drawing 0-0 at home to Queen's Park.

It was a lacklustre showing from the hosts, who had a claim for a first half penalty turned down when Ben Wilson went down in the box and saw Lewis McGregor go close in the 94th minute with a low strike.

Player/boss McCabe made three changes from last week's 1-1 draw at Raith, bringing himself back into the starting line-up alongside Gavin Gallagher and Ben Wilson. Lewis McGrattan, Aidan Wilson and Ricco Diack dropped out.

Inside 90 seconds Airdrie got a sight at goal when the ball was worked to Gavin Gallagher on the edge of the box. The midfielder had time to take a touch and make space for a shot, but he sent his effort way over the top from a great position.

Down the other end, a goalmouth scramble saw Airdrie clear the ball to the edge of the box and Diamonds No.1 Cade Melrose had to be on top form to tip over a thumping drive from Grant Gillespie.

In 18 minutes McCabe worked a free-kick short to the edge of the box for Dean McMaster to strike, and his low drive deflected narrowly wide of the post off a team-mate.

The Diamonds were screaming for a penalty in 28 minutes when Ben Wilson looked to get onto a long ball through the middle. Jack Baird matched his run and appeared to pull at Wilson's shirt as he went for the ball just inside the area, but referee Kevin Clancy saw nothing in it.

Six minutes later, the visitors took the lead. Morton keeper Sam Murdoch launched a long ball forward for Adeloye and the striker beat Melrose to it, nipping the ball past him on the edge of the box and rolling the ball into an empty net to put them a goal to the good.

Morton almost doubled their advantage moments later, but Melrose got down well to get a strong hand to a curling Ali Crawford effort as it looked destined for the bottom corner.

Murdoch almost gifted Airdrie an equaliser five minutes before the break. The Ton keeper got caught out by Ben Wilson with the striker stealing possession and playing in Mochrie, who dallied on the ball and allowed Morton to recover possession.

Half-time arrived with Airdrie failing to register a shot on target.

Just seconds into the second half, the hosts had a lucky escape. Adeloye collected the ball out wide, found Ali Crawford in space and when he threaded the ball through for Michael Garrity, the Morton man curled his effort agonisingly wide of the far post with Melrose beaten.

It was yet another warning for the Diamonds to step up their game and they turned to the bench in 57 minutes with a double switch. Diack and McGregor came on in place of Ben Wilson and Gallagher to try and provide a spark.

In 64 minutes a low, first-time strike from Chris Mochrie inside the box forced Murdoch into a good stop down to his left as Airdrie pushed for a leveller.

Diack was then denied by a superb block and in the 94th minute Lewis McGregor was denied by a fine save from Lewis McGregor inside the box.

Airdrie could not find a way beyond a resolute rearguard action from Morton, leaving them very much in the relegation play-off place, at best.

The Diamonds are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Dunfermline.

AIRDRIE: Melrose, Hancock, MacDonald, McCabe, Bannon (Strapp 75), Gallagher (McGregor 57), McMaster, Frizzell, McStravick, B Wilson (Diack 57), Mochrie.

Scorers:

Bookings: McStravick, Frizzell, McMaster

Subs not used: Wright, Duffy, Watson, Graham, Armstrong.

MORTON: Murdoch, Delaney, Baird, Ballantyne (Wilson 84), Boyes (Davies 66), Garrity (Moffat 67), Blues, Crawford, Shaw (Corr 66), Gillespie (Lyall 66), Adeloye.

Scorers: Adeloye 34

Bookings: Delaney, Gillespie, Garrity, Baird

Subs not used: Keay.

HT: 0-1

Ref: Kevin Clancy

Att: 1,706