MUSSELBUGH Athletic manager Calvin Shand is “really pleased” with his side’s start to life in the East Premier League.

The Burgh boss has guided his charges to an unbeaten start to life in the second tier following their relegation last season, with four wins and a draw from their opening five games sitting Burgh second in the table.

They began with a 6-2 win over Tayport at Olive Bank and treated their home crowd to another half dozen goals as Dunbar United were dispatched 6-0 last week.

And they moved to the top of the table, level on points with Fauldhouse, thanks to a 3-1 win at Dalkeith Thistle last weekend.

Another home win followed as Arniston Rangers were beaten 1-0 on Wednesday evening, before the 100 per cent record came to an end against Bathgate Thistle on Saturday – the West Lothian club holding out for a goalless draw at Olive Bank.

Shand, in his second season in the Olive Bank dugout, praised the players for the good start to life in the second tier.

Ahead of the Arniston clash, he told Courier Sport: “We’re delighted with the start we’ve made, picking up nine points, but the most pleasing thing has been the way that we have gone about it.

“We have played some really good football and although we weren’t at our best at the weekend we were still comfortable winners.

“That is maybe something we lacked a bit last year – we didn’t play badly, but we weren’t as good as in the other two games.”

The 33-year-old was also quick to highlight the benefits of having a full squad available to him throughout pre-season.

Shand added: “What we came in to last year was not great but we managed to keep most of last year’s squad and we’ve had a full pre-season with the squad – the boys have been excellent. To be honest they’ve been excellent ever since I came in and I think last season was unfortunate for them.

“Everything we’ve given them to do they’ve taken it on board so they’ve been first-class.”

And while he refused to get carried away with Burgh’s currently lofty league position, Shand was adamant that the club’s goal is to secure a return to the East Superleague at the first time of asking.

He said: “Getting back there [Superleague] has to be this club’s aim.

“How we do it remains to be seen but that is definitely the target for us.

“Everyone wants to win the league, but there are other good sides in the division, but we’ll be giving it our best.”

Burgh will head to St. Andrews United on Saturday hoping to maintain their unbeaten run.