Airdrie boss baffled by referee call that denied Diamonds late penalty in Dunfermline defeat

Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe admits he is baffled by referee Grant Irvine's decision not to award his side a late penalty in their defeat to Dunfermline.

The Diamonds threatened to dampen Dunfermline's flag day as they took the lead against last season's League One champions through Craig Watson's 22nd minute header.

But a quick response with a Ewan Otto header and a stunning Paul Allan strike in the second half gave James McPake's men all three points.

Dunfermline were reduced to 10 men in 77 minutes when Rhys Breen saw red for a second bookable offence, and the Diamonds almost pushed home that advantage for an equaliser late on in a goalmouth scramble.

The ball appeared to strike a Dunfermline hand in the stramash that ended with Calum Gallagher, somehow, skewing an effort wide inside the six yard box.

A penalty would have given Airdrie a huge opportunity to take something from the game and McCabe is stunned by the referee's reasoning for denying his side a spot-kick.

He said: "We had the same instance coming here last year in terms of refereeing decisions - and I just don't get it.

"It's a handball on the line - regardless if it is intentional or not - and it has stopped a goal, but the referee has not given it.

"I've spoken to the referee at the end and he's said, because it is unintentional, it is not deemed a foul.

"I don't get it. I don't know too much about the laws of the game on that now because they change it every year.

"But common sense tells me if you handle the ball on the line and you stop a goal, it should be a penalty.

"There was one at the end with Frizz as well, but I'd need to look back at it. It looked like a penalty but he gives them the free-kick.

"But that's not the reason we've lost the game.

"I thought