Airdrie loss the lowest point for East Fife boss Darren Young

The 2-0 defeat at the Penny Cars Stadium, coupled with a 1-0 Montrose victory against Cove, saw East Fife slip from fourth in League One to sixth and into the bottom half of the division after the split.

Instead of now battling it out for a place in the promotion play-offs, and putting together a late title charge, the Fifers instead will play out games against those battling against the drop.

With East Fife eight points clear of second bottom, and with just 12 to play for, it's unlikely they'll be dragged into that scrap.

Of course, they'll want to stave off any lingering threat and can go a long way to doing that with a positive result at home to Dumbarton on Saturday.

The Fifers will have to lift themselves for the Sons' visit after suffering a miserable night in Airdrie

Second half goals from Calum Gallagher and Dale Carrick sealed a 2-0 win.

Gutted Bayview boss Young said: "It's really disappointing and the worst defeat I've had to take in my managerial career.

"We've been knocked out on goal difference and have spoken before about games when we needed to be ruthless.

"The Partick game, we lose a goal in the 94th minute.

"The Cove game as well, 92nd minute we get a goal disallowed.

"We can look back on these games but it was still in our hands and all we needed was the point and we never got it.

"Montrose got the win against Cove, Airdrie beat us, and we lose fifth spot."

East Fife were forced to play a hectic run of games after they returned from the league's suspension, playing two midweek nights as well as weekends.

An injury list at the part-time club started to grow and Young believes the side suffered because of the stacked fixture list.

"Without a shadow of a doubt it did," he said.

"At the end of the day the guys are doing their best in the situation with the number of games and it's taken its toll."