Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe says his side were too soft after Edinburgh came back from two goals down to win 5-3 at New Broomfield last night.
Goals from Callum Smith and Calum Gallagher had the Diamonds 2-0 up inside 14 minutes, but a Danny Handling penalty and a Jack Brydon header drew the visitors level just ahead of the interval.
Edinburgh took the lead through another Handling penalty before Smith added his second of the game to level in 59 minutes.
But an Ouzy See goal and a red card for debutant Jay Riley left Airdrie up against it, before Callum Crane added a fifth goal three minutes into stoppage time.
A third defeat against Edinburgh this season dropped the Diamonds two places back down to sixth in League One, and McCabe told the club’s website: “It was poor. We started the game very well, everything we had spoken about in training, in terms of our preparation, we started it, executed it, hence the reason we gained the advantage with two really good goals.
“Then for some reason we took our foot off the gas and due to our own mistakes and stuff we allowed them back in the game.
“I don’t think it was through Edinburgh getting themselves back into it, I think it was purely the fact that we let them back into the game.
“The game’s 90 minutes. It’s all good playing nice football or getting the advantage 30 minutes into the game, you’ve still got an hour left.
“Again, we’re too soft to concede that many goals. I keep saying it about dealing with crosses, it’s far too easy with crosses coming in, and ‘soft’ is word-perfect.”
Smith opened the scoring after just six minutes, latching onto an Adam Frizzell ball before slotting into the net.
Eight minutes later Cammy Ballantyne made it to the bye-line before cutting back for unmarked Gallagher to blast in.
Gallagher nearly turned provider in 18 minutes, but Liam Fontaine made a timely block to deny Gabby McGill.
Edinburgh got back in the game in 37 minutes when sub Riley was judged to have fouled Crane as he tried to head in a cross, with Handling converting from the spot.
The Citizens were level just ahead of the interval when McCabe inadvertently headed a James Craigen free kick into the path of Brydon, who headed past Dean Lyness.
Edinburgh were awarded a second penalty seven minutes into the second half, with Craig Watson judged to have fouled Ryan Shanley as he made his way into the box, with Handling again converting.
Airdrie pulled level at 3-3 in 59 minutes when Smith latched onto McCabe’s raking forward pass to smash in an angled drive.
But Edinburgh regained the lead in 73 minutes when a well-placed corner floated over a crowd of players in the six-yard box for See to side-foot into the net.
Riley was sent off on his debut after collecting a second booking in 83 minutes, and the visitors added a fifth three minutes into stoppage time through Crane.
McCabe hopes Riley will learn from his two bookings quickly as he makes the transition to first-team football.
He said: “He’s got to learn the harsh reality of men’s football.
“He’s been in training for a large period of time without really a game on a Saturday, so hopefully he can learn from this as quickly as possible and not dwell on it too much.”
Airdrie travel to basement battlers Peterhead on Saturday, hoping to get their campaign back on track.
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