Alloa 1-2 Airdrie

Jan 27 2008 Jordan Costello At Recreation Park

DEADLY Allan Russell cracked home a wonderstrike as Airdrie out-gunned their play-off spot rivals.

But gaffer Kenny Black reckons his men need to buck up their ideas if they are to have any chance of shocking Kilmarnock in tomorrow's Scottish Cup crunch.

Diamonds' top scorer Russell shook off an ankle knock to grab a spectacular opener and Bryan Prunty fired the killer second before Andy Scott's late consolation for Wasps.

The win moved Airdrie seven points clear of Allan Maitland's side in third and could be a huge result come the end of the season.

But Black had mixed emotions. He said: "I'm delighted with the points but not the performance.We won but I expect better.

"We'll now prepare for Killie but we'll need to play a lot better. There's a chance for us to meet Celtic in the next round and you don't need a bigger incentive."

Russell agreed with his gaffer and said: "It was an important three points away from home butwe didn't pass thewaywe can. They made it difficult but we can play better. I was happy to score - the ball just fell to me and I caught it well."

Alloa started brightly and in five minutes Graeme Brown's volley was brilliantly saved by Stephen Robertson.

They continued to press and Douglas Wilson came close when his strike from 20 yards was saved by Robertson.

But Diamonds went ahead against the run of play in 19 minutes. Ricky Waddell's corner broke to Russell just outside the box and he drilled into the top corner.

The goal herowas a constant threat and went close again when his left-foot strike was stopped by Raymond Jellema.

Prunty latched on to the rebound and found Marco Andreoni but his effort was blocked.

Airdrie were now in control and almost went two up when Andreoni sent Russell clear.

The striker cracked in a shot and his effort was superbly stopped by Jellema.

The keeper rescued his side again in 39 minutes when he kept out Stuart Noble's effort.

The game got scrappy in the second half but Airdrie threatened again in 58 minutes when Jellema dropped another Waddell corner and Prunty just failed to knock home.

Diamonds finally doubled their lead midway through the second half.

Kevin McDonald's header from midfield found Prunty in space and he slotted home.

Alloa almost came back into it in 67 minutes when Adam Coakley tested Robertson.

They came close again two minutes later when Brown blasted in an effort that was well saved.

Wasps finally grabbed a lifeline in 78 minutes when Brown's blocked effort broke to sub Scott who fired into Robertson's bottom corner.

Maitland's men pressed for an equaliser late on but never looked like getting it.

The boss said: "I'm disappointed with the result but pleased with how we played.

"We showed a lot of spirit and adventure.We had a real go and were unlucky not to grab at least a point.

"Ifwe keep playing like that we'll be up there at the end."