Raith Rovers remain three points ahead at the summit of the SPFL Championship but crashed to a dispiriting 1-0 defeat to Airdrie.
It was just a second league loss of the season – but also a second against the Diamonds away from home.
Nikolay Todorov’s 24th-minute header was the difference as the Stark’s Park side failed to hit the standards they have set this term.
Off the pitch, teenage fan Kieren Ross was afforded VIP treatment after he was attacked in the wake of the Fife derby win over Dunfermline Athletic.
Temporary blip or longer form slump?
Raith deserve huge credit for getting into the new year before suffering just a second Championship loss of an impressive campaign.
With their Fife derby victory over Dunfermline on January 2, Rovers took this season’s points tally (44) beyond what they earned in the whole of last term (43).
Unfortunately, the high of the East End Park triumph was followed by the immediate low of a defeat to Airdrie to bring to an end a 16-game unbeaten run.
Remarkably, it was also the first time Ian Murray’s side have failed to win on the road in 10 away games in all competitions since they last lost to the Diamonds.
With all that success has come rising expectations.
So when defeats do come they hit hard.
Saturday may have been a first loss in 17 matches dating back to September, but it also means they have only won once in their last four outings.
Since the seismic 1-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice in mid-December, there have been two draws, a win and a loss.
Murray has always warned of bumps in the road.
And, despite the fillip of a fourth consecutive derby triumph, this now appears to be one of those.
With a home clash against joint-bottom Queen’s Park on Saturday, it also feels like an important week as Rovers bid to smooth out the bump with a return to winning ways.
Something about Airdrie
Raith have taken just one point from a possible nine against Airdrie this season and have suffered their only two league defeats against the Diamonds.
It seems no coincidence that their biggest struggles have come against the team formerly managed by Ian Murray.
And the team that Dylan Easton and Callum Smith both played for.
With just one goal scored in the three games against the Lanarkshire outfit, there has certainly been a sense that Rovers have been nullified in attack.
Has the knowledge in the Airdrie ranks of how Murray likes to approach games and piece patterns of play together helped them?
Have individuals been more able to stifle well-kent opponents when facing them one on one?
Saturday was one of Easton’s poorest performances of the campaign, whilst Smith struggled up against his former team-mates.
Raith will be happy they have only one more fixture to fulfil against the Diamonds.
No late show this time
Murray has previously talked of a palpable sense of disappointment when Raith have failed to pull off the remarkable last-gasp comebacks that have become their trademark this season.
They have pulled it off so many times it has almost become expected of them.
On Saturday, there was never really a feeling they would rediscover their scoring touch before the final whistle eventually blew after a lengthy injury-time.
On previous occasions, there has been a growing swell of pressure and momentum that has finally paid off.
At the Excelsior Stadium, Rovers continued to prove toothless in attack right to the end.
Instead, they conceded needless free-kicks and avoidable corners that helped Airdrie break up the play and run the clock down.
It was a game of few goalmouth opportunities – both teams had just eight efforts at goal, with Raith hitting the target only three times and Airdrie one more.
Sometimes things don’t click going forward and, for the Stark’s Park men, Saturday was definitely one of those occasions.
As time ticked away, it felt increasingly desperate in search of a late leveller rather than convincing and confident.
Discipline is key
Raith clearly have a strong squad this season, results are the proof of that.
However, it is definitely not a large one.
Just 16 players have appearances in double figures and only 13 have over 20 outings to their name in a campaign that will reach its 30th game in all competitions against Queen’s Park this weekend.
Right-back Ross Millen played in his 17th Championship match – out of a possible 20 – this term on Saturday against Airdrie.
But he will have to wait for this 18th after the red mist descended following the full-time whistle against the Diamonds.
Apparently enraged by the actions of Mason Hancock, he ignored warnings from referee Dan MacFarlane and was eventually shown a straight red card.
The 29-year-old has already racked up seven bookings and was banned (after the sixth) for the trip to Inverness just a month ago.
Saturday was an avoidable loss of discipline after an already costly defeat.
Shaun Byrne also served a cumulative suspension against Arbroath recently and was missed in the 2-2 draw.
With a tight squad, Ian Murray could do without unnecessarily missing players when it comes to what he hopes will be a title run-in.
