MUSSELBURGH RFC head coach Grant Talac has called for his players to “stand up and be counted” ahead of a must-win basement battle tomorrow (Saturday)

Burgh lost for the seventh game in a row as they were beaten 26-21 by Stewart’s Melville in National League Division 1 on Saturday.

They are now just three points clear of Hamilton, who occupy the relegation places alongside Howe of Fife – who are the visitors to Stoneyhill this weekend.

Talac told Courier Sport the match starts a “must-win” run of games for Burgh, who have not won in six league matches and one cup tie, if they are to avoid relegation.

The Burgh boss, in charge since 2013, added: “It’s time for the players to make their choice and stand up and be counted.

“We’ve got Howe of Fife and Aberdeen [Grammar] at home, with Hamilton away.

“If we want to stay in this division then those are three must-win games.”

Talac was left bemoaning a “very disappointing result” as they fell to defeat at Inverleith on Saturday.

Burgh shipped three tries in the first half, and trailed 21-0 at the break.

Talac, an ex-Heriot’s prop and Scotland U21 cap, told Courier Sport: “Our first-half performance was nowhere near good enough and if we had kept concentration, we should, on the balance of play, have scored a few tries ourselves.”

“It was a very disappointing result.”

Tries from brothers Will and Michael Fleming got Burgh back into the match for a spell, before the visitors pulled clear once more.

Talac did take heart from an improved second-half showing, adding: “In the second half, we knuckled down and played like we should, but the damage had already been done, although we got close.”

Talac praised his squad for earning a losing bonus point, through Brad Graham’s late try and Owenson’s conversion, and hopes to see an improvement in their first-half display tomorrow.