Shell-shocked Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe insists their capitulation from 3-0 up should never have been allowed to happen, as 10-man Diamonds blew the chance to stun League One leaders Dunfermline.
McCabe’s men produced a blistering opening 50 minutes at New Broomfield and looked on course to demolish Dunfermline thanks to goals from Gabby McGill, Calum Gallagher and a Robbie Mahon own goal.
But the game turned on a controversial sending off for striker Callum Smith, who was judged to have deliberately handled the ball in the box and denied Dunfermline a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
From there, Kyle Benedictus fired home the penalty to spark their revival before two fine Matthew Todd strikes from distance pulled the Pars level heading into the final eight minutes.
The pressure on Airdrie kept building and they caved in the 86th minute when substitute Nikolay Todorov popped up to net the winner and complete the visitors’ miraculous turnaround.
But gutted gaffer McCabe criticised his side’s game management and revealed assistant boss Callum Fordyce gave his fellow defenders a rollicking for their display.
McCabe said: “We allowed them back into the game, it is as simple as that. We were firmly in control of that game.
“We should have been 5-0 up and that is not being arrogant. We should have had the game dead and buried before they got back into the game.
“I don’t think they really carved us open, but we never stopped enough crosses.
“We knew that was their strength. Todorov comes on and there is only so many times you can defend that if we keep allowing boys in that area of the pitch the chances to put crosses in.
“Of course they are going to get on the end of things.
“We battered them in the first half. We looked like the team on control and we were far superior.
“But moments in games change it. Too often this season we’ve had a sending off or a penalty to allow teams back into games.
“That is the frustrating thing on my part.
“We’ve allowed teams back into games this season, rather than killing them off.
“That might be due to a youthfulness in the squad or whatever, but there has to be an element of game management and responsibility.
“In football everyone talks about the player and mollycoddling them, being nice to the player.
“But sometimes they’ve got to hear a few home truths.
“Sometimes it isn’t pretty all the time.
“Dycey went in and had a few strong words from a defensive point of view and he is well within his rights. He is spot on.
“But the main thing is we that we regroup and everyone is at it because we need a big week now ahead of going to their place on Saturday.”
McCabe was also disappointed in the double-whammy penalty decision that turned the game.
He added: “I think it is soft. I think it is probably a penalty but I don’t think he needs to send him off.
“He’s stumbled over and rolled over the ball. I don’t think there was any intent there but he [the ref] has made the decision to send him off.”
Another controversial moment in the clash came when referee Gavin Duncan didn't show Airdrie goalkeeper Josh Rae a second booking when he handled the ball outside his area.
Responding to that incident, McCabe said: "It wasn't outside the box. The referee gives it but the full ball wasn't out of the box.
"That is why the referee doesn't send him off because he's not 100 per cent sure. He's gone with the linesman.
"And I said to him at the time: 'Ref, you've got to be absolutely 100 per cent sure that he is outside' - and he wasn't."
The defeat leaves Airdrie still sitting third in the table but they are now level on points with fourth-place Alloa and just ahead by goal difference.
They also trail Pars, who they face again on Saturday at East End Park, by 13 points, having played a game more.
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