Illness struck down Airdrie player-boss Rhys McCabe but he felt a whole lot better after watching his Diamonds make it four games unbeaten in League One.
The New Broomfield midfielder picked up a bug during the week and watched from the dugout as Airdrie edged out Kelty Hearts thanks to Calum Gallagher's second half strike.
McCabe, who had named himself on the bench, admitted it wasn't the best of matches as his side had to slug it out with the Fifers at times. Late on they needed to put bodies on the line to survive an onslaught from the visitors as they chased an equaliser.
But he was thrilled to see his side keep their strong form going and fight tooth and nail for their third clean sheet in four matches.
He said: "I picked up a bug and hadn't trained this week with any real intensity so I didn't think it would have been fair on the boys.
"It would have been a bit hypocritical of me if I wasn't 100 per cent, so it was a good opportunity for young Dean McMaster and Justin Devenny to go in there and play against good players.
"They grew into the game and really complemented each other.
"But the game was starved of real quality, if I am totally honest.
"I don't quite know the reason for that.
"There was a wee bit of bravery in terms of our performance. Any time we did play with a bit of bravery and intensity with the ball, one and two touch stuff, moved the ball quickly, we looked dangerous and caused them problems.
"But we got sucked into taking too many touches at times and, for large periods of the game, they managed to nullify us.
"Sometimes games are like that.
"But the way we defended - with boys throwing their bodies on the line, being aggressive and taking account of themselves - showed a different side to us.
"I can never grudge any win and that's four games unbeaten now so it keeps that momentum going and, hopefully, that starts to help the confidence as we go into a busy run of fixtures going into the Christmas period."
Clear-cut chances for the Diamonds were few and far between but it was some decent build-up play that helped Airdrie get over the line, with a flowing move eventually seeing Kelty keeper Darren Jamieson fail to keep hold of Lewis Jamieson's strike and that allowed Gallagher to mop up the rebound for his seventh goal of the season.
McCabe added: "It was a tough game and a bit scrappy and the service up to Gal could have been better.
"But I thought for a spell in the second half we started to do that.
"The goal comes from a bit of good combination play and I'm delighted to get the three points."
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