This Tuesday sees our first game in the IRNBRU Cup against League One side, Airdrieonians.

Our visitors have had a tough start to the season, with just the one victory recorded so far, against Stranraer in the Betfred Cup.

A couple of familiar-ish faces should be in tomorrows squad - Ryan Conroy had two spells at Palmerston before joining the Diamonds while Marc Fitzpatrick made a handful of appearnances in blue and white in 2013 before joining Morton. One very familiar face that wont be playing is Iain Russell. "Beanie", of course, left us to join Airdrie last summer but decided at the end of last season to retire from football. 

Ahead of the game, the manager gave his thoughts

"I am still disappointed that we came away from Tannadice empty-handed on Saturday, it was a tough one to take. I was really pleased with the way that we played after a difficult opening first twenty minutes or so. I can't fault the lads effort and commitment. After a tough open 20 minutes or so we found our feet and I thought we did more than enough to earn at least a point from the match.

We certainly created enough chances to have taken something but a combination of indifferent finishing from us, a poor final pass or cross and very good defending from Dundee United denied us. I have said before that it’s never easy playing against ten-men because they galvanise themselves and defend with a greater intensity. But there is plenty of positives for us to build on.

There’s a healthy belief in the squad just now. The defeat at Dundee United was a sore one but we will make sure that it doesn’t dent the confidence that we’ve got from a good pre-season and a good first-day result at home to Brechin City.

We have to sustain the level of performance that we’ve got from our two opening games against Airdrie.

We have got a good record in the Challenge Cup  and that’s something that we want to continue, particularly after our disappointing exit from the League Cup.

But Airdrie will make it tough.  They'll be pleased to get their first point of the season on Saturday and I am sure that will give them a platform to push on.

The arrival of Chris Kane and Jason Kerr has boosted our squad and given us competition for places.  I've already said I will shuffle the pack for the Cup game, as I want to give players game time.  The whole squad will be required throughout the season so they all need to be ready. "