Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe hopes ending their 'terrible' 19-game winless streak can be the catalyst for the Diamonds to pull off a great escape in the Championship.

A 3-0 win over relegation rivals Dunfermline cut the gap at the bottom of the table to 10 points and provided their first league win since August when they beat Raith Rovers 1-0 on the opening day of the season.

Goals from Lewis McGrattan, Chris Mochrie and Ben Wilson did the damage and brought only their second clean sheet of the campaign in the process, giving them renewed hope going into the final 15 games of the season.

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And McCabe said: "I think it was deserved. We've maybe not got the right rewards over the course of the season so far. We've been close on a number of occasions and have scored a few goals then found ourselves on the wrong end of a scoreline.

"I thought we were a threat, we looked solid, we were good defensively and there were a couple of good chances in the first half that we didn't take.

"It could have been a lot more, without being disrespectful to Dunfermline. I felt we were really good today. Everybody contributed and the subs that came on had an impact as well.

"It sounds terrible, 19 games without a win, but there's been times during that period when we've not been a million miles away, put in good performances, but found ourselves on the wrong end of the stick.

"We've had decisions that have gone against us but the boys have stuck together, they've rallied around at training and there has not been a dip in attitude when it is easy to feel sorry four yourself.

"You can see these guys are running through brick walls for each other."

He added: "We are realists. We knew if we didn't get a result today then it would become difficult, so we knew the magnitude of the game.

"It's not just the three points, the performance was really good and we looked really strong.

"We've lacked a bit of confidence, that is clear to see, but hopefully that is the start of the turning point that we need because Dunfermline is the team we need to catch.

"There is still a long way to go, it is only one game, but it is a step in the right direction."

Airdrie more than merited their victory and the quality of the goals delighted McCabe, with the third goal in particular reminiscent of the Diamonds' play that took them into the Premiership play-offs last term.

The opener came after 14 minutes when Wilson's effort was well-saved by Pars keeper Tobi Oluwayemi, but the rebound fell kindly for Mochrie to push a composed volley into the far corner.

In first-half stoppage time, Airdrie doubled their lead when Wilson got down the left and slid the ball across the box for McGrattan to slot into the bottom corner.

For the clinching goal in 57 minutes, Lewis Strapp arrowed a pass inside to McGrattan and his first-time through ball split the Pars defence wide open, before Wilson provided a clinical first-time finish.

McCabe added: "At the third goal, the touch from Lewis McGrattan is excellent, the forward running is great, we've got mobility and pace at the top of the pitch.

"Another couple of goals would have been the icing on the cake but I would have taken this result before the game.

"It is a clean sheet as well and we handled the big occasion well, so I'm really pleased."