Darkest day

THE sun was shining, a night out on the town lay ahead and the following day was to be spent cheering on my team.

Weekends don't really come much better but my mood was gloomy as I began the drive from Clyde's Broadwood Stadium to my South Lanarkshire home last Saturday night.

Before a game, I sometimes imagine how things might pan out during the 90 minutes. What sort of performance will Airdrie United produce? What's the best possible result that can be achieved? That sort of thing.

But I didn't expect for one minute that Airdrie would crash to a 3-0 defeat to rock-bottom Clyde in their basement battle in Cumbernauld.

Having watched the Diamonds pull off a determined 1-0 victory at Dundee seven days earlier, a loss to the Bully Wee seemed inconceivable. Yet it wasn't.

There has been plenty of comment about the result and performance in the pages of the Advertiser, on this site and on supporters' messageboards. I think it is fair to say that everyone was gobsmacked at the abject nature of the display Airdrie served up.

And - forgive me for being negative for a moment - something tells me this particular defeat could have major ramifications for Airdrie's first division future. Suddenly, even a place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed.

Clyde are only a point behind the Diamonds and, on paper, seem to have the easier run-in.

Airdrie face Ross County this weekend then play Partick Thistle and St Johnstone. From the previous nine games combined against these sides, Kenny Black's players have managed just two draws and been beaten seven times.

It's not looking good is it?

Three points against the Staggies are now so important.

Airdrie produced their worst performance of the season last Saturday. We can only hope they have saved their best until last.