Burscough FC boss Andy Mutch says he will take the flak if the Linnets are relegated from the Blue Square North

Apr 16 2009 by Philip Kirkbride, Ormskirk Advertiser

Burscough FC boss Andy Mutch says he will take the flak if the Linnets are relegated from the Blue Square North

BURSCOUGH boss Andy Mutch says he will shoulder the blame if the Linnets fail to beat the Blue Square North drop.

The Greens are second bottom of the division, six points from safety with just three games remaining but Mutch is staying positive about his side’s chances of survival following Monday’s 2-1 win over Workington.

Farsley Celtic inflicted a hammer blow to Burscough’s bid to stave off relegation, beating the Linnets 5-1 on Saturday in a game which saw captain Brian Moogan and Ray Shearwood sent off inside 15 first half minutes.

The pair will now miss the final game of the season at home to Blyth Spartans, a match which could decide the fate of both sides and Mutch admits losing his captain is a huge blow.

He said: “Both Brian Moogan and Ray Shearwood will miss the final game of the season. To lose Brian for that game is very much a big loss, he has been outstanding all season but just had a blip at Farsley. He felt the decision to send Ray off was unjust, so to have two boys sent off inside the first 15 minutes was tough. Up to that point I thought we were dominating the game.

“It is the first time since I became manager that we have had a loss of discipline, we have been excellent all season, so this sending off has certainly come at the wrong time.

“But I was very much pleased with the way we responded on Monday against Workington. We went 2-0 up but conceded a sloppy goal, but fought really hard and showed a real will and desire to cross the line.”

As delighted to have grabbed a vital three points of Monday, Mutch’s joy was tempered somewhat by results elsewhere, including Blyth’s 5-0 hammering of Farsley Celtic.

Left with three games to save Burscough’s season, Mutch says they will have to put the nightmare of Farsley behind them and tackle Stalybridge Celtic and AFC Telford this week, with renewed hope.

He said: “Results did conspire against us, I believe Farsley sent out their reserve team to Blyth, which is very disappointing, but there is nothing we can do about it. We will have to approach the next three games with a professional manner.

“There might be more pressure on Stalybridge on Saturday with them still chasing the play-offs so we have got to go their with a positive attitude and work ethic.

“Telford are also fighting to get into the play-offs so it is the same ingredients, but it is down to us.

“If we do not do enough to stay in this league then I will be held responsible for that. But with all the upheaval and changing that has gone on, for 95 per cent of the time the lads have been excellent.”

Peter Heler has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Ray Shearwood and Josh Wilson are struggling to make Saturday’s squad.