Airdrie midfielder Scott Agnew says his side deserve promotion from League One for their performances this season, after helping them to a club record 20 games unbeaten.
Assistant boss Agnew was in the dug-out in place of suspended Ian Murray for the 1-1 draw at home to Peterhead on Saturday, and replaced Dean Ritchie in 66 minutes to help the second-placed club get over the line.
Peterhead’s Grant Savoury opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time by latching onto a Hamish Ritchie corner and sending a 20-yard shot past Jay Cantley and in off the left post.
Airdrie levelled on the hour-mark when Si Ferry deflected a Matty McDonald shot past Brett Long and into his own net.
Scott Brown sent a Peterhead penalty over the bar just minutes after Airdrie equalised, leaving the sides with a point apiece.
Agnew admits it was a difficult game, with Airdrie making seven changes ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final at Montrose on Tuesday, but says full focus is now on their promotion push.
He said: “It would be some achievement to go up, but the performances all season have deserved promotion, so hopefully we can get over that line.
“I believe we’ve got good enough players, and the boys are ready, full of confidence.
“It’s a massive opportunity on Tuesday and Saturday, we know what’s at stake.
“You never know in the play-offs, and it’s going to be extremely tough, but we’ll give it our best shot.”
Agnew admits it was a difficult League One closer for the Diamonds, but was pleased with the effort shown by his team-mates.
He said: "It was difficult. We gave a lot of boys minutes who haven’t been playing this season, but I thought the effort levels were absolutely superb for boys who haven’t played many minutes this year.
“I thought in the first half we probably struggled a little bit, but in the second half we got better and deserved the point, overall.
“It was all about getting over the line for the record, that’s 20 games unbeaten, which is incredible.
“It’s a testament to every player in the squad that the lads who stepped in today have kept that going for us, which is very pleasing.
“We gave a lot of boys a rest today so they’ll be fired up and excited about Tuesday night, as we all are."
Agnew hopes Airdrie can now finish the season on a high by making their way through the play-offs and up to the Championship, and says it shows how good champions Cove Rangers were to win the league despite his own team's incredible record.
He said: "Our points tally is absolutely brilliant, and fair play to Cove, because they’ve obviously bettered it, and have been on an incredible run themselves.
“Now that’s out the way, it’s about us and the play-offs, though.
“The season has been incredible, it really has. I think if you look at not just the unbeaten run but the performances and the style we’ve won some games in, it has been incredible.
“I hope that we can get over the line and get promotion."
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