Airdrie boss sets Championship standard test after battling Partick Thistle Scottish Cup defeat

Airdrie manager Ian Murray says the Diamonds have shown they can compete at Championship level after a 1-0 Scottish Cup fourth round exit to Partick Thistle.

Brian Graham's first half goal for the Jags was enough for the Championship club, who finished with 10 men after centre-back Tunji Akinola was controversially sent off.

Then Diamonds goalkeeper Max Currie was subject to a red card call but referee David Munro chose not to brandish the dismissal after a collision with Scott Tiffoney.

Murray's side are in League One's promotion play-off spots and are looking to enter the division in which Partick Thistle play next season.

He believes that the performance has shown that Airdrie could cope should they achieve their ultimate ambition: "We want to repay the fans by getting up to the next league.

"We don't want to go there and make up the numbers. We want to be competitive. When will we get there? I am not sure. But we have a chance. I'm sure the fans will support us wherever we go and they really push us on.

"It was two great clubs on show with two cracking supports. We aspire to get to here and that's no disrespect to League One. We want to get as high as we can, as quick as we can."

Murray was disappointed with the Thistle defeat but insists that his team can be proud of their performance against higher opposition.

He added: "We are disappointed with the result but we are not disappointed with the performance. There is always stuff that we can work on.

"We were playing against a very good side who are playing in the league above and challenging to reach the Premiership.

"They were in League One with us last season and they have improved so much. Ultimately they are through and that is what cup football is all about.

"We are disappointed with the score but I couldn't ask more from the players here, and all season really. They have been through so much together.

"We gave Partick Thistle a real scare. Sometimes you don't get the rub of the green and you don't get that goal. The Thistle goal takes a deflection on the way through."

Murray added that putting Akinola into the position he was for the red card is something his side had planned: "I'll need to see it again. Technically by the letter of the law, he is the last man.

"We did talk about it before the game that we thought there were chances behind their centre-back's."

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