Rose gaffer claims Linlithgow have unfair advantage

BONNYRIGG boss Alan Miller has hit out at the East Region's fixture makers, claiming they are giving Linlithgow an unfair advantage in the Super League title race.

Miller is furious with the packed schedule his side have been handed over the next week, starting with tomorrow's home league game against Lochee United at 2.30pm.

Rose then travel to South Division promotion chasers Sauchie in the third round of the Fife & Lothians Cup on Monday before facing two crucial Super League games in the space of four days.

Scottish Cup finalists Musselburgh visit New Dundas Park next Wednesday then Miller's men head to Hill of Beath tomorrow week. During that period, leaders Linlithgow aren't in league action, with Dave Baikie's side facing Bathgate tomorrow in the Fife & Lothians Cup then Penicuik next Saturday in the East of Scotland Cup.

"I know these people have a job to do but it is an absolute scandal the way these latest fixtures have come out for us," blasted Miller.

"Depending on what happens in the Sauchie game, we might have only one game - a league fixture at Linlithgow - after next Saturday.

"What the hell is going on? Why are they rushing us to play our league games when we've not got a backlog like Bo'ness?

"It is scandalous that we're having to play four games in eight days, including three league fixtures, yet Linlithgow have two cup ties in that same period."

Linlithgow lead second-placed Bonnyrigg by two points in a tight title race, with both teams having played 18 games.

Lochee, who have played a game more, are a point behind Bonnyrigg in third, with Hill of Beath a further point adrift after 17 games.

Add in title holders Bo'ness, who are up to sixth after a midweek win over Newtongrange and have five games in hand on both Linlithgow and Bonnyrigg, and a close finish to the title race looks to be in store.

"It is remarkably tight," added Miller. "From our point of view, I don't know if it's fortunate or unfortunate that we've got the team lying first, third and fourth to play in our remaining games. Linlithgow are certainly the favourites because the way the fixtures are panning out they're going to know exactly what they've got to do. But Bo'ness have bounced back well from their Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Auchinleck and, if they retain the title from the position they're in, they will thoroughly deserve it.

"It's a tall order, though, with so many games to play, including a derby against Linlithgow as well as matches against Lochee and Hill of Beath."

Bonnyrigg's hopes of reclaiming the title they won two seasons ago suffered a setback last Saturday, when they lost 3-2 at home to Camelon.

Having been tipped by some as relegation material at the start of the season, Miller is delighted his team are still in the mix.

"We've got some players in our squad who are Super League winners and know what it takes to claim the title," he said. "We'll certainly be giving it our best shot but we've seen recently how fickle some people are. At the start of the season some people were doubting if we could survive in the Super League after the changes we'd made to the squad.

"Yet it's funny how those same people, as a result of expectations increasing, are expressing their disappointment about results like the defeat last week as being damaging to our title chances. No matter what happens between now and the end of the season, we feel we have a squad of players here who are developing.

"Because of the age of squad, it is going to stand the club in good stead over the next two or three seasons. Anything we might achieve this season, to be honest, is a bonus."

In tomorrow's other Super League games, Bo'ness will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they entertain Forfar West End. At the other end of the table, Musselburgh and Newtongrange could both do with picking up wins in a couple of crunch clashes.

Third-bottom Musselburgh are away to Kelty, who lie a place above their opponents, while it's second-bottom versus bottom as Newtongrange host Tayport.