As the Championship play-offs heat up, Airdrieonians find themselves presented with a golden opportunity to secure their place in the league for another season. The Diamonds, under the leadership of manager Rhys McCabe, are set to face Stenhousemuir in a crucial semi-final first leg at Ochilview Stadium on May 6, 2025. This match comes on the heels of Hamilton Academical's relegation due to a significant 15-point deduction, which has inadvertently opened a lifeline for Airdrie, who were previously facing automatic relegation.
McCabe, reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, emphasized the importance of seizing this opportunity. "We’re going into the play-off in good form but we’ve got to be realistic and see the opportunity that it is," he stated. The manager noted that without Hamilton's deduction, Airdrie would have been relegated last week, which adds an extra layer of urgency to their upcoming matches. "We’ve been gifted a little lifeline through circumstances, through no fault of our own," he added, stressing the need for his team to capitalize on this chance.
In their quest to maintain their Championship status, Airdrie will not only have to perform well in the first leg but also in the return match on May 10, 2025, at home. McCabe acknowledged the significance of playing the second leg at home, stating, "It’s good that the return leg is at home, but you still have to play them home and away, so it doesn’t really matter – we’ll be going to win all the games." The stakes are high, and every match counts as they aim to avoid the drop back to League One.
Looking back on the season, McCabe lamented the impact of injuries that plagued his squad, which he believes could have placed them in a position to fight for promotion rather than merely survival. "When you go back to that run in the early part of the season, it was always a case of could we get the players back, when we were toiling with injuries for the best part of four or five months," he explained. However, he remains optimistic about their current form, noting that they have been performing well since mid-January, which could have seen them in the play-off spots if injuries hadn’t disrupted their campaign.
Meanwhile, Stenhousemuir, who secured their play-off spot on the final day of the Scottish League One campaign, are riding high on their recent success. The Warriors clinched a 2-1 victory against Dumbarton on May 3, 2025, thanks to goals from Matty Aitken and Blair Alston. This win allowed them to leapfrog Alloa Athletic, who fell to Kelty Hearts, finishing fourth in the league as a newly-promoted part-time team.
Stenhousemuir's manager, Gary Naysmith, expressed his pride in the team's achievement, highlighting their resilience throughout the season. "After the game today, I had to cut my chat a little short because I could feel myself getting a little emotional," he shared. Naysmith praised his players for their performance against Dumbarton, noting that the pressure of the game brought out the best in them. "They started the game on the front-foot and played some really nice stuff considering it was a high-pressure game," he said.
Despite facing a setback when Dumbarton equalized through Matthew Shields shortly after halftime, Stenhousemuir quickly regained the lead with Alston’s volley, securing the crucial three points. Naysmith acknowledged the challenges of playing with ten men after Kinlay Bilham was sent off in the final minutes but praised his team's ability to hold on for the win. "The players didn’t panic and that was something we actually spoke about beforehand," he noted, emphasizing their tactical discipline under pressure.
As Airdrie prepares to face Stenhousemuir, both teams are aware of the significance of this play-off encounter. For Airdrie, it’s about survival and redemption after a tumultuous season, while for Stenhousemuir, it's an opportunity to build on their success and push for promotion. McCabe's focus on a positive mindset will be crucial as they navigate this high-stakes match-up.
"We’ve got to make sure we approach these last couple of games with a full mentality, full positive attitude, and really attack them," McCabe concluded, highlighting the determination that will be necessary for his squad. As the play-offs unfold, fans can expect an exciting clash between two teams with everything to play for.
