Date	Saturday, 04 April 2026
Competition	Scottish Championship
Fixture/Score	Ross County 0:4 Airdrieonians
Venue	Global Energy Stadium at Victoria Park
Attendance	2,859
Referee	David Dickinson
Comments	Match Report Report By Paul Chalk for the Press & Journal. Ross County 0 Airdrieonians 4 The toiling Dingwall side has four fixtures left to avoid the drop after basement side Airdrie trades places with them following a clinical display from the Diamonds. Ross County returned to the foot of the Championship as main relegation rivals Airdrieonians overtook them with a resounding 4-0 victory in Dingwall. Afterwards, manager Stuart Kettlewell’s side labelled it the “worst result in the club’s history” as his men now have just four fixtures remaining, one fewer than the Diamonds, who they trail by two points. County are also now eight points behind eighth spot. The best-case scenario for County now looks like getting back in front of Airdrie in the division to contest the two-legged play-off, which could be against Inverness should ICT fail to win their League One title battle against Stenhousemuir. County’s fight for survival takes them to Glasgow on Friday when they face Queen’s Park, who are three places and eight points ahead of Kettlewell’s strugglers. Airdrie skipper Lewis Strapp headed the visitors in front early on and Chris Mochrie doubled the scoreline after 17 minutes. Midfielder Cole McKinnon crashed home number three just before half-time, leaving the Highlanders with a mountain to climb. Adam Devine wrapped up the win for Airdrie to leave County in real trouble in their fight to avoid League One football next season. Kettlewell, shell-shocked by the display from his under-fire team, sought to explain what had unfolded. The former Championship-winning player, now boss for a second time, said: “Let’s just make it simple – that’s by far and away the worst result in the club’s history. “I feel so fortunate to have been a part of so many good things at this club in so many different roles, but we as a group now need to live with the worst performance in this club’s history. “There is no hiding place. That doesn’t go away today, tomorrow or at the start of the week. “We lost to Raith Rovers 6-0 (in December under previous boss Tony Docherty), but if I can put it into context, this game meant so much more against a direct rival. “As individuals and collectively, for us all – myself and the coaching staff included – to perform in that fashion, it could have been 5-0 at half-time, so it sits out as the worst.” And the manager feels the other clubs in the division are standing up to the challenge better than his group of players who are well looked after on and off the park. He added: “Everybody knows that we have ploughed so much resource into what you see on the pitch and the football club. “A lot of finance goes into that, and everybody in this league knows that. “Every team that don’t have that same resource want to go and prove a point and show they can turn us over, and today was a classic case of it. “The club has had top six finishes, cup finals and a major trophy – numerous achievements. “We have punched well above our weight, but we didn’t do that with all the same resource and opposition thinking we are a scalp. “Most of the time opposition felt that they were the favourites, and for whatever reason that has flipped on its head. “My opinion is that’s what it looks like to me. We want all the best facility and kit and sports scientists, but what are they giving back to earn what they take from the club. “Nobody likes me saying it, but I’ve said it to the players. There’s a way to lose a game of football, and today isn’t that. “What we saw today and the individuals and the people we see operating at the club now maybe aren’t quite striving with that same hunger. “When that happens, it’s a pretty dangerous thing.” Kettlewell made two changes from the team which lost 3-1 at second-placed Partick Thistle last week. In came Sean Mackie for Levis at the back, while forward Jordan White replaced Uche Ikpezu, who has been struggling with a groin injury. A pre-match boost for Staggies fans was seeing the return to the squad for creative midfielder Noah Chilvers, who had been out for a year with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. He came on for the closing 15 minutes, albeit with the game out of reach. He might well have an important part to play in these crunch closing weeks. The North Lanarkshire side drew first blood as they opened the scoring on four minutes. Jamie Barjonas’ shot was beaten away by goalkeeper Trevor Carson on to the post. Returning captain Strapp reacted quickest to guide a header into the net. County grew into the contest though and it took a decent save from Hearts loanee keeper Harry Stone to keep out a Kieran Phillips header as the striker connected with Jay Henderson’s cross. However, matters worsened for the hosts when Mochrie slid a low shot into the net in the box after Strapp’s deflected effort landed at his feet. The Staggies exerted pressure on their opponents’ goal for a spell, but Stone was equal to several crosses and a Henderson free-kick which came his way. On 35 minutes, Henderson’s free-kick into the box picked out Gallagher, but the home captain headed wide. However, six minutes before half-time, ex-Rangers youth player McKinnon lashed a low drive past Carson after the keeper saved a fierce drive from him. This was now turning into a disastrous day, but could County claw their way back, with jeers ringing in the players’ ears as they trudged inside at the break? Kettlewell rang the changes for the start of the second half as Dylan Smith, Sean Mackie and Jordan White came off for Jayden Carbon, Len O’Sullivan and Ikpeazu. A series of County corners around the hour mark certainly asked questions of Airdrie and Connor Randall saw his effort ruled out for offside. Jay Henderson headed wide then Ikpeazu was just off target with a shot, but nothing was coming to fruition for the hosts and time was against them. The icing on the cake for Airdrie came when Devine scored with a low shot after running on to a pass from former County midfielder Charlie Telfer. Many home fans headed for the exits at this point, while the visiting fans partied as their team gained a massive result.
Ross County
Manager	Stuart (Ketts) Kettlewell
Starting 11	30: Trevor Carson, 4: Akil Wright, 6: Connor Randall, 7: Jay Henderson, 11: Kieran Phillips, 15: Dylan Smith, 23: Ross Docherty, 26: Jordan White, 31: Declan Gallagher 1, 38: Jamie Lindsay 1, 62: Sean MacKie
Bench	21: Bradley Foster, 3: Len O'Sullivan, 5: Levis Pitan, 9: Uche Ikpeazu, 10: Noah Chilvers, 12: Jayden Carbon 1, 16: Alexander Iacovitti, 27: Ryan Duncan, 44: James Scott
Airdrieonians
Manager	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair
Starting 11	Harry Stone, Craig Ross, Charlie McArthur, Adam Devine 1, Lewis Strapp 1, Jamie Barjonas, Charlie Telfer, Cole McKinnon 1, Dom Thomas, Euan Henderson, Chris Mochrie 1
Bench	Jake Hastie, Rhys Armstrong, Gavin Gallagher, Robbie Mahon, Owen Stirton, Lewis McGrattan, Cade Melrose, Scott Constable, Sean McGinty