Airdrie's Adam Frizzell insists Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi's play-off heroics show the strong squad depth that could take them to Scotland's second tier.
The striker rose off the bench with fans chanting his name as Ian Murray's side drew 1-1 in their Championship play-off final first leg against Queen's Park at Firhill.
Simon Murray had netted after half-time before the 22-year-old won a penalty that teammate Rhys McCabe converted.
It sets up a grand occasion on Sunday in the second leg at the Penny Cars Stadium, where a win would send them to the Championship.
Such a feat would seal Airdrie's return to that frontier for the first time since 2013 and the Celtic prospect also netted in their dramatic semi-final win over Montrose.
Murray's men ended the League One season 20 games unbeaten and Frizzell says that a good squad with players like Afolabi - who's scored three times with two assists since signing on loan in January - has been needed to get through occasions like Thursday.
He said: "The big man was brilliant against Montrose and again on Thursday's he's gone and won the penalty for us.
"We knew that was in there, he just had to get his chance. He took his chance against Montrose. Across the season, squad depth has killed us at times with Covid and things.
"We strengthened in January and brought in game-changers like Jon who can help us get over the line."
Frizzell is expecting a large travelling contingent from Greenock to watch him on Sunday, for what will be the biggest game of Airdrie's season.
The midfielder added: "It's all to play for now on Sunday. We will go and do our thing then see what happens from there.
"There's all sorts (coming to watch him), friends, family. I'm sure you will be able to hear them!
"We were hemmed in a wee bit in the second half and Queen's Park threw everything at us. We showed character to go and get one back."
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