Jim Duffy’s side lost 2-0 to third-placed Forfar Athletic last weekend as their eight-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Cappielow.

And they failed to get back on track at the Excelsior Stadium, conceding two terrible second half goals to the Diamonds.

After an uneventful first half shaded by the visitors, Lee Kilday was robbed of possession by Jordan Morton as he unadvisedly attempted to cut inside the wideman on 56 minutes.

The coincidentally-named Morton crossed for experienced striker Bryan Prunty, who lofted the ball over the advancing Derek Gaston to break the deadlock.

A second slip was punished on 66 minutes when Ross Forbes’ short downwards header was pounced on by sub Nathan Blockley.

The midfielder reacted quicker than Stefan Milojevic and then shifted round the outside of Ricki Lamie before lashing a fierce drive into the net from 15 yards.

Ton boss Duffy made a double change 10 minutes later, replacing Lamie and Declan McManus with Jamie McCluskey and Ross Caldwell.

Hitman Caldwell crashed a fine curled effort against the crossbar two minutes from full-time as the Greenock eventually offered a response to going behind.

Sub Jamie McCluskey halved the deficit in the first minute of stoppage time when he latched onto a Peter MacDonald through ball and poked past McNeil.

But it was too little, too late for the Ton, whose only consolation was the fact that results elsewhere meant they remained top of the table on goal difference.

Morton (4-4-2): Gaston; Kilday, O’Ware, Milojevic, Lamie (J. McCluskey, 76); S. McCluskey, Miller, Forbes, Russell; MacDonald ©, McManus (Caldwell, 76).

Subs not used: Scullion, Crighton, Pepper, Caraux (gk).

Booked: Russell (24), McManus (40), Forbes (77).

Airdrie (4-5-1): McNeil; Bain, Gasparotto, Lindsay, Boyle ©; Fraser, Gilfillan (Blockley, 28), Docherty, Fitzpatrick, Morton (Watt, 85); Prunty.

Subs not used: Boyle, Gray, Ferguson, O’Neil, Richford (gk).

Booked: Boyle (37), Docherty (58).

Attendance: 1,109 Referee: Stephen Finnie