Rhys McCabe insists Airdrie should have been out of sight at half-time during their heartbreaking draw with Cove Rangers.
The Diamonds needed a win to give their League One title hopes a shot in the arm and were on course for that thanks to Gabby McGill's early opener, but Fraser Fyvie's stoppage-time stunner earned the league leaders a draw and kept the gap at the top at five points.
It was a cruel blow for the Diamonds, who were left to rue a few big missed chances in the first half.
Gabby McGill should have netted with a header 10-yards out midway through the half and Callum Smith volleyed over from close range during a dominant opening 45 minutes.
And McCabe - the League One player of the month for February - said: "I thought the game should have been done at half-time.
"I'm not being arrogant or anything like that. I thought the start we made was incredible.
"The intensity we played at, I don't think Cove expected that or how to deal with it.
"We had three or four really good chances and on another day we are maybe going in 3-0 or 4-0 up.
"That would change the game but the longer it stays at 1-0 they've always got that chance.
"I can't really think of any clear cut chances where they cut us open. Apart from the strike at the end, I thought we were comfortable.
"It feels like a defeat.
"We knew the manner of the game and we knew how important it was for both sides.
"With their goal coming with the last kick of the ball, it's a sore one to take but there's a lot of positives to take from the game as well.
"We've gone toe-to-toe with a good side but unfortunately we've not got the result we wanted."
Focus now turns to Saturday's trip to Bayview to face East Fife.
Victory is essential if Airdrie are to at least keep asking questions of Cove, who don't play Queen's Park until Sunday.
McCabe added: "Nothing changes for us. We are in the exact same position we were in before the game.
"It was never in our hands.
"We still maintain that unbeaten run and, in that last wee push, we are hoping other teams do us favours."
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