Airdrie United host Ross County in a Premier Sports Cup Group D clash on Saturday, seeking a second straight win to kickstart their season. Matty Yates and John Rankin preview the Diamonds' home advantage and early-season goals.
What happened last time out?
Airdrie United eased past Annan Athletic 3-0 last weekend, with goals from Kian Taylor, AJ Bridge and Henry James sparking optimism under new boss John Rankin. The Diamonds sit ninth in the Championship after last season’s 36-point haul (8W-12D-16L from 36 games, recent form DWDDL), and now target a second straight win to start the new campaign on a high.
Why this match matters for Airdrie United
Striker Matty Yates called the opening victory “the most important thing” after a clean sheet, and the squad is still gelling following summer arrivals and departures. Rankin’s side has already switched systems once this month, and Saturday’s game against Ross County offers another chance to test their progress. County, also relegated from the Championship last term, are early League 1 favourites and sit top of Group D with two wins and a draw.
Yates stressed the need to focus on their own performance rather than the opposition’s reputation. “We just want to go and hopefully get another victory,” he said. “We know what we need to do. We know what they’re going to be like – they’re going to be physical and strong, they’re going to want to play football.”
What to expect from John Rankin’s side
Rankin sees the County game as a barometer ahead of next week’s League 1 opener. “Obviously County are in the same league as us, they’ve played three games as well as us, so it’s a great gauge to see where we are,” he said. The Diamonds boss confirmed Cole McKinnon, Zac Butterworth and Dapo Mebude remain sidelined, while Dylan MacDonald and Liam McLeish have resumed full training. Divine Iserhienrhien missed midweek work due to illness.
Airdrie United have scored 35 goals and conceded 49 this season (-14 goal difference), and sit 41 points behind ST Johnstone in the title race. Their last result was a 1-2 loss at Alloa Athletic on 9 May 2026, and recent form reads LLDDW (last five: 1W-2D-2L).
Can the Albert Bartlett become a fortress?
Yates wants the home side to exploit their early-season edge. “Teams will come here, and hopefully we can blow them away in the first five or ten minutes,” he said. “If not, we’ve got the qualities in the team that we can go and hurt teams throughout the game.” Rankin’s young, fit squad will need every advantage as they chase a positive start to League 1 after a difficult Championship campaign.
