Airdrie’s new signing Dean Lyness was delighted to play his first competitive match in six months but couldn’t believe he didn’t start with a win after the Diamonds netted three times on his debut.
The former St Mirren goalkeeper joined Rhys McCabe’s men on Saturday as a free agent and was thrown straight in for Saturday’s 3-3 draw at home to Queen of the South, which saw Airdrie hold out with 10-men after Cammy Ballantyne’s late dismissal for a second booking.
It was his first outing since being part of St Mirren’s 4-0 defeat to Rangers in April and while he joked he was happy with the improvement in conceding just three on this occasion, he couldn’t believe he didn’t walk away with three points.
The 31-year-old Englishman said: “It’s frustrating. When you’ve scored three goals you should be on the winning side but unfortunately we’ve not done that.
“In the grand scheme of things, when we’ve had a man sent off and you are hanging on for a bit, it was always going to be difficult late on but it is frustrating.
“I wanted to start with a clean sheet and a win.
“My last competitive game was against Rangers towards the end of last season.
“I shipped four that day so three is an improvement there, but I wanted to start with a win and we haven’t managed to do that. We’ll try again next week for those three points.”
Any hope Lyness had of a clean sheet disappeared inside just three minutes when Josh Todd fired Queens in front early on, but Airdrie equalised within two minutes through Calum Gallagher.
In a topsy-turvy clash, Callum Fordyce gave the Diamonds the lead but a Harry Cochrane screamer pulled the visitors level just before half-time.
Callum Smith edge Airdrie ahead early in the second half but Gavin Reilly responded for Queens moments later to earn a draw.
On the opener, he said: "Their boy has taken it well.
"But the boys showed great character to go and respond immediately and get us back in the game.
"I don't think you can ask for much more in that situation, in terms of not letting their heads drop and trying to get ourselves back in the game."
Lyness started his career at home club Birmingham City and has the likes of Blackpool, Burton Albion Hearts and Raith Rovers on his CV.
His aim now is to help Airdrie earn promotion from League One after Rhys McCabe offered him an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
Lyness added: “I got the phone call off the manager on Thursday and he asked if I would be interested in coming in.
“I didn’t have to think twice about it.
“It has been a long time since I played a competitive game of football so I was really excited to come here, play some games and help the club win some games to get us back towards the top of the league.
“You want to be at ambitious clubs that want to go places.
“And if I can contribute to that in any shape or form then great.
“I’ve come here to try and help the team progress and I’ll do my utmost to do that.”
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