Darren Young was able to take plenty of positives from his side’s 0-0 draw at the Penny Cars Stadium.
Both Airdrie and Montrose have made in-roads in recent weeks into East Fife’s advantage in fourth position.
The Methil side’s lead was down to just goal difference ahead of the weekend’s game, but with Airdrie unable to beat the Fifers at home, and Montrose losing to Arbroath, the Fifers have a bit of breathing space again.
Things are now set up nicely for the visit of Montrose to Bayview this weekend.
Young was content with the point, but reckoned his side were worth a couple more at Airdrie.
He said: “We dominated the whole game and had maybe 15 or 16 shots, but not enough of them on target.
“From start to finish we were the better team by a long way.
“We worked on a few things because I’d watched them in midweek, so the formation and the style we looked to play worked very well.
“We passed it brilliant but they defended their box very well.
“I’m delighted with the performance.
“It was good to get the clean sheet, keep Airdrie away from us and go a point clear of Montrose. We now look forward to next week’s game.
“There are a lot of positives to take.”
It wasn’t a first half full of goalmouth action, with the main talking point coming from an off-the-pitch incident.
On 18 minutes Airdrie’s Scott Robertson tried to take a throw in in front of the Fife dugout where he ended up getting involved in a confrontation with Methil gaffer Young.
Young felt the defender was stealing too many yards so stood in his way.
In response Robertson raised his hands and shoved the Fife boss but only received a booking for his actions while Young, and latterly goalkeeping coach Lindsay Hamilton, were sent to the stand.
The second was much livelier, with the Methil men dictating things.
They almost took the lead on the 49th minute when Anton Dowds and Aaron Dunsmore combined well to allow Dunsmore a shot at goal which drifted a foot wide.
The Fifers had further chances through Daryl Meggatt, Scott Agnew and Dowds but none of them could find a way past David Hutton.