Airdrieonians vs Montrose Prediction & Betting Tips (6 January)

Airdrieonians enter this Challenge Cup meeting with a sense of momentum that has been building steadily over the past couple of months, helped by their composed performances in cup competition and their ability to manage tight matches. Their most recent notable outing came in the Scottish League Cup group stage, where they secured a 2–1 win over Montrose thanks to goals from Euan Henderson and Lewis McGrattanSofascore. That match highlighted their growing confidence in midfield transitions and their willingness to press high even away from home. With several squad members returning to full fitness and younger players pushing for minutes, the squad dynamic has looked increasingly competitive, giving manager Rhys McCabe more tactical flexibility than earlier in the season.

Montrose, meanwhile, have spent the past two months trying to stabilise their form after a turbulent period in League One, where they narrowly avoided deeper trouble last seasonSports Mole. Their recent matches have shown flashes of improvement, including a spirited performance in that same League Cup meeting with Airdrieonians, where Ewan Loudon pulled a goal back late on to make it 2–1Sofascore. Although results have been mixed, Montrose have benefited from the emergence of younger attacking options and the return of key midfielders who missed earlier fixtures. Their defensive structure has been inconsistent, but their ability to stay competitive in matches against higher‑performing sides suggests they are capable of raising their level when the stakes demand it.

Both teams have used the past two months to refine their tactical identities, with Airdrieonians leaning into a more possession‑driven approach and Montrose focusing on compactness and counterattacking transitions. Airdrie’s recent run of results has shown a team comfortable dictating tempo, while Montrose have been more reactive but still dangerous when given space to break. Their previous meeting in July offered a clear snapshot of these contrasting styles, with Airdrie controlling long stretches of play and Montrose relying on moments of individual quality to stay in the contestSky Sports. With both sides now deeper into their competitive rhythm, this Challenge Cup clash arrives at an intriguing moment where form, confidence, and tactical clarity intersect.

Taking all recent performances into account, along with the trajectory of both squads over the past two months, Airdrieonians appear to hold the edge in consistency, squad depth, and attacking sharpness. Montrose have shown resilience but continue to struggle with defensive lapses that stronger opponents often exploit. Given the patterns from their latest encounters and the current state of both teams, the most reasonable projection for this Challenge Cup meeting is a 3–1 scoreline in favour of Airdrieonians, a result that reflects both their recent superiority and Montrose’s tendency to concede under sustained pressure.