Airdrie (1) v Berwick (1) - 6/12/03
By Gordon Thomson
December 6 2003
Airdrie faced second placed Berwick with several injury problems and languishing in fifth place, though Owen Coyle was included for his third home debut in a diamond.
Gaffer Sandy Stewart was out again with a hamstring injury as was Scott Wilson. Willie Wilson was out too. That meant a start in central defence for our Benin International, Felicien Singbo, for the first time. Up front, Stevie McKeown was preferred to Jerome Vareille. AIRDRIE UTD
The first half was a pretty low-key affair with both sides content to 'suss' each other out. Airdrie's central defensive pairing couldn't have been more contrasting. We had the solid but unspectacular McManus partnered by the wildly erratic, athletic and unconventional African, Singbo. Whilst Singbo wasn't coping too badly, he did seem to misjudge a lot of situations but was using his athleticism to get him out of trouble. The feeling though was that he was an accident waiting to happen. McManus meanwhile was winning new friends. I've got to say that so far this season I've been a bit underwhelmed by some of his displays but today I though he was simply outstanding for us. His reading and doggedness served us well. Docherty picked up a hamstring strain in the first half and though he kept going his injury would affect us badly in the second period. In midfield Ronaldo was again deployed beside Marv and Dunn but it was the interesting choice to deploy McKeown in the hole allowing Roberts to partner Coyle up front that caught the eye. The interplay between the two forwards was at times delightful but not before Roberts infuriated the support by missing a glorious chance midway through the half in the style of Billy Bremner in 1974.
Airdrie made the break through near the interval on the counter attack. Mark McGeown sold himself short coming out for a cross and, whilst he was still flapping, Docherty was on hand to head clear off the line. Play broke up field and Roberts delightfully played in Coyle for the on loan hitman to finish with a brilliant lob from a tightish angle.
Second half Airdrie switched formation back to 343 with McKeown going back up front, McGowan moving inward to central defence, Docherty and Dunn becoming wing backs, and Ronald and Marv in central midfield. For a spell we looked better organised but injury to Docherty ruined our shape completely. Berwick equalised from a deep cross from our left and Singbo was easily beaten all ends up in the air. Jerome and Gow came on as we threw caution to the wind but the game was gone.
| McGeown | Flapping at crosses is becoming a nightmare. | 5/10 |
| Docherty | Played alright but not fit. | 5/10 |
| Singbo | He had a half decent game at times but essentially not good enough | 4/10 |
| McManus | Rock solid. Back to his best after an indifferent start to the season. | 8/10 |
| McGowan | Not at the level he was a couple of months ago | 5/10 |
| Ronald | A lot of effort but he looked like and out of position centre forward, playing in midfield, mainly for his defensive abilities. Says it all really. | 5/10 |
| Wilson | Jeckyll and Hyde. | 6/10 |
| Dunn | Lots of effort but not always clicking. Better in midfield than on that wing. | 5/10 |
| Roberts | The miss apart I thought he had a decent game. Much more like the player he was a couple of years ago but still short of what I'd expect from him. | 6/10 |
| Coyle | Brilliant finish, but overall quite quiet. Lacked support. | 6/10 |
| McKeown | Worked better up front and was looking bood before being subbed. | 6/10 |
| s. Vareille(c.70mins for Docherty) | Didn't get much of a chance | n/a |
| Gow(c80mins for McKeown) | Worked hard to no avail. | n/a |
| Glancy (c85mins for Roberts) | Hardly a chance | n/a |