Musselburgh Athletic boss urges team to stop dropping 'silly' points

The Honest Toun team reached the halfway point of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division season having lost just two of their 15 games.

However, four draws have also cost them points and the chance to be closer to league leaders Broxburn Athletic.

Burns, whose side trail their rivals by 10 points, said: “I think we have done well.

“Being really, really honest, I would like to be closer to the top of the league but there is still a long, long way to go.

“Obviously, we had a spell at the beginning of the season where we were unlucky with injuries but, being honest, we have dropped silly points at times.

“We know ourselves that we can do better sometimes.

George Hunter and Bob Wilson are among the signings made by Liam Burns at Musselburgh Athletic

“We almost need to look back from when we came in.

“We made big, big changes, players left and we signed a lot of players.

“We have done well so far and we are in contention going into the second half of the season where anything can happen.

“We need to make sure we go on a run and cut out the silly dropped points.”

The manager spoke to Courier Sport on Tuesday morning after his side had leapfrogged county rivals Dunbar United in the standings following a 2-0 victory at New Countess Park over the weekend.

Musselburgh Athletic (blue) moved above Dunbar United with victory at New Countess Park

A double from Jordan Smith helped the visitors to move into fourth in the table and 10 points adrift of the league leaders, with a game in hand.

Burns said: “It was the perfect way to start the New Year.

“Dunbar are a good side and we knew it would be a tough game.

“Over the two games against them, we have won both and that is good going.

“They will do well this year.

“Kevin Haynes [Dunbar United manager] has signed some good players, got them well organised and it is a really good win.

“It was maybe a bit different to what we have been before.

“We did not have as much possession but then we did look a constant threat.”

Attention now turns to another all-East Lothian clash as Musselburgh welcome Haddington Athletic to the Olivebank Arena this weekend.

Haddington Athletic manager Scott Bonar

Burgh won the reverse fixture 2-1 in October and Burns was hoping for more of the same on Saturday.

He said: “Scott Bonar [Haddington Athletic manager] has got them well organised. He is a good coach and they have been together for a long time.

“They have added players but they have managed to keep a real core group of players there and they know each other.

“They are a good side and we have got a decent idea of what to expect with how they will play.”

Broxburn and Musselburgh also have to face each other again before the end of the campaign.

The West Lothian side face a test of their title credentials tomorrow (Friday) when they travel to second-placed Hutchison Vale.

Burns said: “Broxburn’s record speaks for itself.

“They have done fantastic so far and the amount of late goals they have scored is impressive.

“Some will maybe say it is luck but it is not luck when you score that many.

“They have got something going for them.”