Frustrated Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston admits his side have got to win their home games if they are to stand any chance of returning to the Ladbrokes Championship at the end of the season.
The Pars manager had just watched striker Michael Moffat steal a share of the spoils for the East End Park side against Airdrieonians after coming on as sub in the second half.
The Fife outfit had gone one down to George Hunter’s first-half goal.
“I definitely don’t see this as a point gained. We’ve got to win games like this at home,” said Johnston.
“They’re really disappointed they never won the game,” he added.
“The first goal’s massive in this league because if you lose the first one, teams sit in and make it really, really difficult.
“It’s hard when they (Airdrie) have virtually got their whole team sitting in front of the box, so it’s difficult to break them down.
“There were a few chances that we probably should have done better with.”
Despite tired legs after taking Dundee United to extra time before falling to a 3-1 defeat in the Scottish League Cup on Tuesday, the Pars started brightly.
Faissal El Bakhtaoui should have grabbed his third goal in two league games when he got the break of the ball on the edge of the Airdrie box, but he fired high.
The Diamonds took the lead when Hunter flashed his second goal of the season into the bottom corner midway through the first half.
Dunfermline did manage to get the ball past Airdrie keeper Neil Parry with half-time approaching but, after latching on to the end of Rhy’s McCabe’s deflected shot, Joe Cardle’s header was ruled out for offside.
Johnston threw Mickal Antoine-Curier and Moffat on soon after the restart, and the attacking duo’s presence changed the complexion of the game.
Moffat latched on to El Bakhtaoui’s knock-down around the hour mark, but the former Ayr man saw his effort tipped over by Parry.
He said: “The manager always says that if one of the boys isn’t doing it then somebody else will come in.
“You know, replacing quality with quality kind of thing, it’s not as if it’s somebody not as good that’s going to come in.”
Moffat’s equaliser was certainly quality. Andy Geggan volleyed a fine cross into the Diamonds’ box, and the striker headed home his fourth goal of the season.
El Bakhtaoiu was desperately unlucky not to add his name to the scoresheet inside the final 15 minutes but, after letting fly from the edge of the area, the Moroccan’s shot was deflected wide of the far post and it ended 1-1.
With league leaders Ayr allowing a late equaliser to Peterhead, it’s as you were at the top, with the Honest Men one point clear of Dunfermline after eight games.