Airdrie boss says 'blame me' for Ton loss as he addresses Accies' points shock (2025)

The Diamonds player-boss saw his side produced a poor showing after learning they had been given a relegation lifeline

Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe insists he is to blame for their defeat to Morton and insisted being handed a relegation lifeline by Hamilton's 15-point deduction did not affect their build-up to the game.

Accies have been relegated today, subject to an appeal of their punishment for multiple SPFL breaches, and as things stand the Diamonds look destined for a relegation play-off spot, after Tom Adeloye's first-half strike for Morton inflicted a 1-0 defeat.

The result leaves Airdrie going into their final two games six points adrift of Queen's Park and Dunfermline, who sit above them on 34 points and with vastly superior goal difference tallies, and seven clear of Accies.

The club were catapulted out of bottom spot thanks to the Accies ruling but McCabe's side produced a lacklustre performance, as they suffered a 20th defeat of the Championship campaign.

And he said: "It was my fault today and I've got to hold my hands up.

"I could sugar-coat it and talk about X,Y and Z, but I should be dealing with the ball [in the build-up to the goal], it's as simple as that. I take responsibility and that on the chin, we just need to go and dust ourselves down.

"If we go and score the first goal in that game, it would maybe have changed our momentum. But they scored the first goal and they managed the game well after that.

"I'm certainly not going to use it [Hamilton's plight] as an excuse or a positive. My job as a manager is to focus on ourselves and that's what we'll do.

"I'm not going to comment on the 15-point deduction because I don't know enough about it.

"I could say something now and something could change two weeks later. When I heard about it, it was a shock and we didn't expect it, but it is not something we've been itching to happen or thinking was going to happen.

"From our point of view it is certainly a wee boost in confidence, but I certainly don't want clubs to be going through that.

"I know a lot of the Hamilton players, I know John Rankin and it will be difficult for them. I don't envy them in the position they are in right now, but I am not going to comment on something that could still grow arms and legs.

"The preparation wasn't any different. We've just had to take care of ourselves. What goes on outside of us, is none of our business and I don't know enough about it.

"It hasn't affected me but if it has affected some of the boys, then so be it. We've been good recently and that is the frustrating thing. No disrespect to Morton, but we've been better against teams higher up in the division and put in really good performances.

"We've got two big games left and we'll be looking to get maximum points."

Airdrie barely troubled Morton's 17-year-old goalkeeper Sam Murdoch, but did have a first half penalty claim turned down when striker Ben Wilson appeared to be pulled down by Jack Baird as he raced onto a long ball into the box.

And McCabe felt his side were hard done by.

He added: "I have not seen it back, but I spoke to Ben and he is adamant it is a penalty because he gets between the ball and the man. It looked like a penalty on the pitch, but I don't know.

"Last week at Raith I was adamant we should have had a penalty and we didn't get it, and it was a penalty when we saw it back. But it is water off a duck's back because we know what to expect from officials at this level."