MUSSELBURGH Athletic manager Liam Burns has challenged his team to stop champions-elect Linlithgow Rose from winning the title on Saturday.

The West Lothian side can be crowned East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division champions if they win at Olivebank on Saturday and if Sauchie Juniors lose to Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Musselburgh, who are third in the table, come into the game on the back of victory over fourth-placed Jeanfield Swifts and are yet to play second-placed Sauchie.

Burns was keen to ensure that his side finished the season strongly and said: “I think it is a test. I think it is a genuine ‘where are we?’

“Let’s go and play Linlithgow Rose; I have watched them a good few times and they are a really good side, with really good players.

“They are well coached and well organised.

East Lothian Courier: Musselburgh Athletic (blue) beat Penicuik Athletic to close the gap on Premier Division leaders Linlithgow Rose.Musselburgh Athletic (blue) beat Penicuik Athletic to close the gap on Premier Division leaders Linlithgow Rose.

“We want to play against those teams, to go and compete against them.

“They are the best team in the league and the league table does not lie.

“They have got a good record and we have got a proper difficult end to the season.

“These are the games you want and we will look at where we are.

“The last thing we want is the season nearing an end and it peters out, with the results going a bit indifferent.”

Burns was determined to ensure that Linlithgow were not celebrating in East Lothian and was looking to build on his side’s three-game unbeaten run.

A surprise 4-0 loss at home to Broxburn Athletic last month has been followed by a draw with Haddington Athletic and victories away to Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Jeanfield.

Burns, who took the manager’s job following the departure of Joe Hamill earlier this season, had been surprised by the defeat but pleased with his side’s reaction since then.

East Lothian Courier: Liam BurnsLiam Burns

He said: “It is easy to go on the Sunday or the Monday and watch the game when you have won and pick pieces to show the players.

“You don’t know until you are in it, you will get a bad defeat and then watch it another two times on the video – it is not nice.

“The first thing I do is look at myself and what did I do or what I did not do.

“I always come back to myself before the players – what could I have done better?

“You give it all day Saturday and then all day Sunday and Monday.

“You then turn up to train on Monday and then you speak to them about what you were unhappy about and then it is done.”