QUEEN'S PARK and Airdrie meet in the first leg on Thursday for the right to play in the Scottish Championship next season.
Both clubs had remarkable routes through to this stage, with the Firhill encounter on Thursday followed by the second leg in Lanarkshire on Sunday.
The Spiders – who left behind their famous amateur status to become professional – now have former Burnley and Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle in the dug-out even though he isn't supposed to officially start the job until June.
They defied big odds to shock Dunfermline with a late Simon Murray goal stunning the Pars with a 1-0 win in Fife after a goalless draw in the first leg in Glasgow.
However, Airdrie surpassed that with an incredible comeback win against Montrose. After losing the first leg 1-0 at Links Park. they were 2-0 and 3-1 down at home and seemingly down and out.
But they scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to take the tie to extra time and eventually won by an astonishing 6-4 scoreline!
So both sides will be going into this on an almighty high.
How the bookies view it
Queen's Park are favourites here with home advantage and they are 17/12 with SBK to take a first leg lead to the Excelsior. The Diamonds are 21/10 underdogs with McBookie.com. The draw is 9/4 with William Hill.
Recent head to heads
Amazingly, these clubs have already met six times this season – four in the league and also in the League Cup and Challenge Cup. There have been four draws and Airdrie have won twice at home.
Queen's Park have failed to beat Airdrie in the last 12 meetings between them.
Below is the last meetings of the sides, where Airdrie won 2-0 at home in March.
Players to watch
Simon Murray was only on the bench at East End Park, but the former Hibs and Dundee United striker was being tipped for a Scotland call-up not so long ago and is always a danger. He is 13/8 to score with McBookie.com.
Callum Smith dragged Airdrie back into the tie with a brilliant hat-trick on Saturday and needs one more goal to hit 20 for the season. He's 12/5 to net tonight with McBookie.com.
Anything else catch the eye?
It's hard to see why the home side are such firm favourites here. Airdrie finished 21 points ahead of Queen's Park and didn't lose to them in six meetings.
Their defeat at Montrose last week was the first time they had lost a game in League One since December…and that was also at Montrose. So Ian Murray's side are begging to be backed here.
Despite Airdrie's ten-goal thriller on Saturday, it's rarely Firhill for thrills when Queen's Park are at home. There haven't been over 2.5 goals in any of the six meetings this term, not in any of Queen's Park's last six home games and it could be a very cagey affair.
Under 2.5 is odds-on everywhere, so try the under 1.5 goals at 9/4 with bet365. Similarly, both teams to score: No with Boylesports at 20/21.
This Scottish Championship match between Queen's Park and Airdrie will be played on May 12, 2022 and kick off at 19:30. Check below for our tipsters best Queen's Park vs Airdrie prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
