Bed rest has been our preparation for Forth McKim hopes his players recover in time following illness

JACOB TOLAND

Johnstone Burgh boss Jamie McKim admits his side’s call-off last weekend was a blessing in disguise.

Burgh’s scheduled cash with Vale of Leven at Keanie Park was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and with many of his squad ill, McKim was happy to have the weekend off.

As his players prepare to face Forth Wanderers today, he believes an extra week in bed has given his those under the weather a chance to recover.

He told Express Sport: “It actually turned out really well as a couple of the guys were ill last week. We decided to take the Thursday night off from training.

“We had a feeling the game would be called off so we decided to take some action and give the boys a break so they could recuperate.

“We’ve now got 17 or 18 players available for the match this afternoon so I’m pleased with how it’s happened.”

Burgh face Forth in a repeat of the opening day fixture which saw McKim’s men come out on top in a thrilling 5-3 win.

However, the manager expects it to be a different story this time in the return fixture.

He said: “They’ve got a new manager so it will be a different side with a different style to the one we played at the start of the season.

“I’ve been to a couple of their games but I’m not sure how they’re going to line up.

“When we played them on their own ground, I hadn’t quite seen anything like it during my time in junior football. It was a very tight pitch so they were playing very direct.

“The goalkeeper that played that day is now gone so that could change things up a bit as well.”

Burgh currently sit in seventh place, three points ahead of Forth who sit tenth in Division 2.

McKim knows that his side should be doing better and wants to see more consistency from his players.

He added: “We should be doing better. I said at the start of the season that we should be aiming to finish third.

“I think that is achievable if we show some consistency in our performances.

“We have a very young squad, one of the youngest in the league I believe, so that could help us in the long run when it comes to fitness.”

Burgh do have games in hand on some of the teams above them and will be looking to take advantage during a hectic Christmas schedule.