Airdrie defeat to Alloa a reality check for Ross County clash, says Dean McMaster
Airdrie midfielder Dean McMaster says their defeat to League One Alloa will serve as a 'reality check' ahead of Saturday's Championship opener against Ross County.
The Diamonds were defeated 3-2 by the Sons on Saturday, having led 2-1 with an hour gone. Rhys McCabe's men topped their Premier Sports Cup group with a 100 per cent record going into the winner-takes-all clash with the Wasps, but errors from Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a penalty shortly after Airdrie had taken the lead and then McGinty gifted the ball to Steven Buchanan in the 89th minute and the striker made Airdrie pay with his late winner.
It means Airdrie miss out on qualifying as one of the three best runners-up on goals scored and McMaster - who is on the comeback trail after missing pre-season through injury - says that should serve as a warning ahead of the Staggies visiting on league duty.
The 22-year-old, who is the club's vice-captain, said: "The goals are all individual mistakes. Alloa haven't really earned the goals, but that happens.
"It was disappointing to go in 1-0 down at half-time. I think the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we started really well and obviously get the two goals. After that, I don't know why, but we dropped off and we let them come back into the game when they never should have been in the game.
"I think Alloa defended most of the game in their 18-yard box and we should never let them come into the game, especially with how dominant we are at home.
"It is a reality check for us to show that it won't be plain sailing, winning every week. We need to get back to our best and make sure we win this coming Saturday.
"It is so disappointing because the boys have put in so much hard work. Obviously, I have been in the stand for two of them but today was just one of those days where it wasn't good enough, and we need to correct that.
McMaster made his comeback in Wednesday night's 2-1 win at Montrose and played the first half of Saturday's defeat, so he is delighted to be building up his fitness in time for the Championship campaign.
He added: "It is good to be back on the park and get some minutes in the legs. I missed the whole of pre-season, so it is good to get the minutes.
"As you could probably see, I am a wee bit rusty and I am not at my full fitness. I thought we started the game quite well, playing on the front foot with some nice passages of play, but we just didn't penetrate through to get that goal or those forward runs."
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