Musselburgh Athletic boss set for must win game against Broxburn

Burgh will travel to Albyn Park knowing that they will more than likely need to win to have any chance of overhauling the West Lothian club at the top of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division table.

Burns’ side have three games in hand over their rivals, who currently enjoy a 16-point advantage, and know that they will probably have to win each of those encounters and hope for a slip-up from the Brox along the way.

He said: “We go to try to win every game.

“Saturday will be exactly the same.

“A draw does not mathematically put us out of it but we need to go and win the game.

“I am not saying they would take a point but they would be happier than Musselburgh with that.

“We need to go and win it and then just concentrate on ourselves.

“We want to have as good an end to the season as possible.

“Where we are, there are a lot of really good sides up the top of the table.”

Musselburgh Athletic tackled Clyde earlier this season in the Scottish Cup. Image: Alan Wilson

Broxburn have only dropped points on three occasions so far this season, with two of those encounters coming against East Lothian sides.

Dunbar United were 3-0 winners in West Lothian, while Haddington Athletic battled to a goalless draw at the home of the 2018-19 EoSFL Conference C title winners.

Broxburn’s record so far this season can only be bettered by about half a dozen clubs across the near-300-strong Scottish football pyramid.

Musselburgh, who were leading in the reverse fixture at Olivebank back in the second week of the season before a sending off, will now look to dent that impressive record further.

Burns said: “Their record really does show you how well they have done.

“We know exactly what we are up against.

“They are a very, very good side but we know we played them at the start of the season and our team was, on paper, not as strong as now.

“We have got a few players in, we had a lot of injuries that day and we were missing key players.

“Up until a dubious sending off for Jamie Todd, we were winning 1-0.”

Musselburgh Athletic tackled Clyde earlier this season in the Scottish Cup. Image: Alan Wilson

The manager was full of praise for his rivals and highlighted their strength across the park.

Speaking to Courier Sport before Wednesday evening’s cup clash with Lowland League side University of Stirling, he said: “I think [Broxburn] are good all over.

“They have got a good, strong goalkeeper and good defenders.

“Obviously, Steven Anderson coming in has helped them and Greg Page is having a really good year.

“He is a good player at this level and they have got good footballers in the middle of the park.

“Up front, they are a handful.”

Musselburgh Athletic tackled Clyde earlier this season in the Scottish Cup. Image: Alan Wilson

In the meantime, all Musselburgh can do is continue to pick up points and hope that the league leaders falter as the season comes into the final third.

While Broxburn were grinding out a 1-0 win at Penicuik Athletic at the weekend, Burns was watching his team win 4-0 at home to Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts – matching the scoreline from the previous meeting between the two teams last August.

The manager said: “We have got good attacking players and we should always create chances to score.

“I thought we did that well on Saturday.

“We managed to take them and it was a good game.

“They played quite well and I could see a big improvement from the start of the season.”