Airdrie 3-0 Raith Rovers

Feb 3 2008 Michael Baillie At New Broomfield

SHOCKED Raith boss John McGlynn last night slated his blundering stars for throwing away the chance to go top and admitted:We beat ourselves.

Darren Smith, Bryan Prunty and Allan Russell were all on target as Airdrie hauled themselves back into the title race with a super second-half show.

But they were gifted their goals and fuming McGlynn knows any repeat could cost his side glory.

He said: "We shot ourselves in the foot - we beat ourselves. We were dominating but the first goal we lost was scrappy.

"The second came fromplaying the ball back in a bad area and it was a disaster - and the third was equally as bad.

"We had the ball at our feet in the box.

Marvin Andrews heard the keeper shout for it but it hit between his feet and their guy came in and scored.

"It was individual errors. We've not been guilty of them until this game and we better not continue to be."

Airdrie are now just a point behind second-placed Rovers with a game in hand.

But gaffer Kenny Black revealed how it took a half-time rollicking to get theminto top gear. He said: "We never got going in the first half and there were a few choice words. I told them they needed to believe in themselves. I'm delighted."

Black's team started well and Russell seemed to have put any disappointment over missing out on a transfer deadline day move to Kilmarnock behind him.

The hitman looked sharp and almost fired Diamonds ahead in seven minutes.

He found Smith before charging into the box to pick up the return. However Russell's prodded shot went just wide.

Raith were unlucky not to edge in front two minutes later with only the width of the post denying Steven Hislop.

Robert Sloan's flick found Hislop whose volley hit the woodwork and rebounded into the arms of keeper Stephen Robertson.

It clearly wasn't Hislop's day as a short while later Paul Lovering cleared another of his efforts off the line after a good run by David Goodwillie.

While Lovering was the hero there he almost scored an own goal in 33 minutes. Sloan swung in a free-kick and the ball spun off the skipper's head and crashed against the woodwork.

Airdrie brought on Prunty for Ricky Waddell at the break and it was inspired as he had a part in their opener in 50 minutes.

The sub capitalised on a mistake by Craig Wilson and charged to the edge of the area and passed to Marco Andreoni.

Andreoni's shot was blocked but Mark Campbell failed to clear and Smith drilled a low drive beyond Keiron Renton.

Airdrie were buzzing and doubled their lead in 67 minutes when Niall Henderson passed across the defence and Prunty nipped in ahead of Andrews.

He skipped past Renton before easily slotting home.

Diamonds wrapped up a superb win in 76 minutes. But again the Raith defence played a part in their own downfall.

Russell sent Prunty in on goal only for his low shot to be saved by Renton. But as the keeper and Andrews waited for each other to clear Russell pounced to bulge the empty net.