Airdrie reaction

Stirling Albion boss Stuart McLaren felt his side deserved better than to suffer a first-round League Cup exit at the hands of Airdrieonians on Saturday.

Jordan Morton’s goal late in the first half proved to be the difference as the Diamonds won 1-0 and we were unable to make the most of a much-improved second-half display.

McLaren said: “I thought the better team didn’t win. Airdrie caused us a few problems early on and the goal we lost was disappointing but I thought we were much better in the second half and we finished strongly – we didn’t deserve to lose.

“On another day we might have had one, or even two penalties. I felt there was a clear push in the back on Phil Johnston for the first one although I didn’t get a clear view of the trip later in the game.

“We let ourselves down at Elgin because we allowed the game to get stretched but we were much better in that respect today and I thought the back four were excellent.”

Airdrie manager Gary Bollan said: “We didn’t play as well as we can but I think we deserved to win – I can’t remember our keeper having a save of any real note.

“If we had been more clinical in the final third we could have scored a couple more goals. It wasn’t pretty at times but it is all about getting through.”