After appearing to win the ball just outside the 18-yard box, Phinn was first cautioned for a challenge on Joseph Cardle.

The second yellow followed a tumble as he chased the ball to the byline, with the referee deciding there had been no contact from Airdrie goalie Stephen Robertson.

After the goalless draw, McIntyre questioned the ref’s judgment.

“Nick said there was contact and he’s not a boy who tells lies,” he said.

“But what I’m more disappointed about is the first tackle. He’s clearly won the ball but to compound him giving away a free-kick in a dangerous area he’s actually booked him.

“The referee said he came through the back of him but I think everybody in the stadium had seen he clearly took the ball and never touched the guy’s leg. It was a great challenge, so that was a sore one to lose.”

He continued, “We just didn’t have the cutting edge today. I don’t think the referee helped, to be quite honest, but credit to them because they battled their backsides off for most of the time that was left.

“They showed a great desire not to lose a goal and still kept pressing and trying to score because draws are no use to anybody, we want to win the game.”

Dunfermline just “didn’t flow” as they had against St Johnstone, in the words of the manager, and despite Airdrie, according to their manager Kenny Black, putting on a “really poor” show, the hosts just could not convert chances into goals.

The so-far successful pairing of Graham Bayne and Andy Kirk had an opportunity early on after Iain Williamson found Kirk in the penalty area, but the shot was blocked.

A succession of corners proved fruitless, as did a shot from Alex Burke.

Had the Pars retained 11 men to the end, their perseverance may just have paid off, but it was clearly not their day.

Debut boy Steven Bell, who is playing catch-up after missing pre-season training because of a cartilage operation, agreed with McIntyre’s interpretation of Phinn’s first yellow card.

He said, “I’m standing up at the bench and I can see he’s taken the ball. He may have taken the man but he took the ball before. To get a double yellow, if you ask me, it’s a shocker.”

Bell has an anxious few months ahead while he finds out if the cartilage problem will resurface.

“I had a wee talk with the doctor and he said it’s going to be a bit sore. Hopefully it won’t affect me in the long term,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to get on the bench because a lot of the young boys have done really well recently. I was even more surprised to get on, but I’m glad he put me on because every 10 or 20 minutes, or half hour, is going to make me that bit fitter.

“I missed a full pre-season. As soon as you miss a pre-season, you’re well behind straight away. It’ll take a couple of months for me to get to where I want to be and the boys are doing brilliantly just now.

“I just need to take my chance when I get a chance.”

Also making his first appearance for the Pars was attacking midfielder Simon Wiles, who signed a one-year deal in time to feature as a sub against the Diamonds.

Preston-born Wiles (23) previously had a contract at Blackpool but spent the last two seasons on loan to Macclesfield Town.

“It’ll give us a bit more competition for places and that’s exactly what we need,” said McIntyre.

“And Steven Bell’s come in and made his first appearance. It’s good to have him back.