As derby's go this was one of the better ones with three second-half goals, plenty of near misses and some crunching tackles that kept referee Mike McCurry busy all afternoon.
Yet at the end of game Airdrie slumped off the field with only one point in the bag and four games played, a tally which even at this stage of the season must be of concern to the club's management, especially if they look at the forthcoming fixtures from which, on this form, they will be lucky to take anything.
Defensively, Airdrie are weak. Paul Lovering is in the twilight off his career while Marc Smyth is still finding his feet since joining from Thistle. Add to that Kevin Christie who, like Lovering, is getting on a bit and you have a recipe for disaster.
Manager Sandy Stewart is limited in what he can do by virtue of Airdrie's dire financial position, and few would envy him and his struggle to keep Airdrie in the first division.
Today that ropey defence cost two goals at a time when Airdrie were holding Accies and a point looked a distinct possibility.
Their failure to deal with Mark Gilhaney in the 65th minute when he cut inside and drilled the ball in off the post from 20 yards was scandalous. Then nine minutes from time a simple pass from Marvyn Wilson to Paul McLeod allowed the substitute to shoot past keeper Stephen Robertson. It seems legitimate to ask on both occasions '' where was the defence?"