Callum Smith says it’s very important for Airdrie to get their League One marketing campaign off to begin – as a result of not doing that price them the title final season.
The Diamonds head as much as Peterhead on Saturday for his or her curtain raiser, and Smith hopes they will come again to Lanarkshire with all three factors.
Final season it took Airdrie till their fourth league sport to bag a win – sarcastically a 3-2 outcome at Peterhead – with an 3-0 opening day defeat to Montrose adopted by a 2-2 draw at Dumbarton and a 2-1 defeat to Falkirk.
That was adopted by a run of 12 video games with simply two defeats, with a number of extra of these all through the season taking the New Broomfield membership to the Premiership play-off closing, which they misplaced to Queen’s Park.
With a go to by Falkirk looming in a fortnight, adopted by clashes in opposition to Queen of the South and Alloa, Smith says it’s crucial to get off to a flier.
“It’s crucial to get off to begin,” he stated. “Final season we didn’t begin properly and that’s what finally most likely killed us ultimately.
“I feel within the first three or 4 video games of the season we misplaced two and drew one, and by no means had begin.
“So I feel this season getting begin is essential, as a result of we all know what can occur if we don’t.”
Airdrie took 10 factors from 12 in opposition to Peterhead final season, and Smith hopes to maintain that report going.
He stated: “Peterhead is at all times a tough place to go. Everybody who goes up there is aware of they’re going to get a tough sport, and the journey doesn’t assist both.
“We’re going up assured. We all know Peterhead are aspect who at all times handle to do properly within the league, however we’ll method the sport simply as we usually do.
“We at all times need to maintain the ball and dictate the sport – that’s the way in which the gaffer needs us to play now.
“We need to rating objectives and hopefully win the sport ultimately. That’s what we’re going as much as do.”
Modifications at Airdrie throughout the summer season noticed boss Ian Murray and assistant Scott Agnew depart for Championship aspect Raith Rovers, and take prime star Dylan Easton with them.
Rhys McCabe was handed the supervisor’s job and he’s assisted by defender and captain Callum Fordyce, however a number of gamers additionally left for pastures new, whereas mortgage offers ended.
However Smith says they’re nonetheless assured they will problem for the League One title.
He stated: “We’re assured. We all know we had season final season and we fell quick simply on the final hurdle, however we’ve nonetheless acquired a lot of the group of boys that have been there.
“I feel if we add one other few we’re moderately assured, and the way in which we’ve been taking part in in pre-season has proven that.
“We performed St Mirren within the Premier Sports activities Cup, gave them a very good sport and beat them 2-0, so it’s all to play for.
“We really feel assured, going into it.
“I feel, total, it has been begin to the season.
“It was at all times going to be onerous to gel the workforce immediately, there have been a whole lot of modifications on the membership throughout the break.
“I really feel that squad-wise simply now we’re nonetheless a wee bit slim, we’ve nonetheless acquired a couple of our bodies to herald, and the gaffer is aware of that.
“However I feel we’re wanting sturdy for the beginning of the season.”
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