Forfar Athletic manager Gary Bollan issued an anger-filled apology to supporters as the Loons slumped to the foot of League One after one of their worst performances in an incredibly poor season.
With just two games left, Forfar are adrift at the bottom, two points behind Angus rivals Brechin City and three points off the third bottom safety spot, currently occupied by Stenhousemuir.
With Brechin and the Warriors facing off next Saturday, something has to give between them. Forfar’s point of view, League One survival or not will all come down to a final-day derby at Station Park against Brechin.
Forfar must be odds on favourite for automatic relegation now however and even securing the second bottom play off place would be an achievement.
Bollan did not mince his words after the 2-0 home defeat to Airdrie and admitted that his side had put themselves in an extremely difficult position.
“I am embarrassed after a performance like that,” he said. “We have told the players that and to be fair, they are embarrassed as well. We can only apologise to the fans who come along week in week out and support us because that was as poor a performance there has been since I came here.
“Things have got to be better. We have put ourselves in a position where there is now pressure on us. Next week has got to be better.
“After some of the performances we have had in recent weeks, trying to pinpoint just what went wrong is hard.
“I just think the manner in which we lost is embarrassing. Our play wasn’t great. Myself and the back room team were appalled by it.”
Forfar failed to land a single shot on target in the entire 90 minutes and Bollan agreed that was a real concern for his side.
“We don’t want to make excuses but we were without three players who have been regulars for us. But three players do not make a team. I can assure you I am not making any excuses in that area but as everyone could see, we did miss them.
“It is up to others to step up to the plate and see if they can grab a position. But it has left me with big decisions for next week regarding who comes in because obviously after today, there will be changes next week.
“There are two games to go now and we have left ourselves in a position that they are two must win games for us.
“We have got to be much better than we were today and much more committed also. That’s is all over the pitch, because I think we lacked that today.”
The visitors took the lead with their first real attack after nine minutes. A ball was floated into the box and Alan Lithgow got enough power in his downward header from six yards to beat the dive of keeper Darren Hill.
Two minutes before half time, Forfar conceded the sloppiest of goals. Bryan Hodge gave the ball away in the half way line and as Airdrie broke forward Michael Dunlop and Darren Hill were caught in no man’s land, leaving Jim Lister the easiest of lobs over the stranded Forfar keeper.
Forfar looked devoid of fight or flair and failed to test the Airdrie keeper throughout. The closest they came was late on through sub Matthew Aitken who was not far away from a debut goal with a header just over.
