Shotts looking to stun Johnstone Burgh again to end year on high

Shotts boss John McKeown is hoping his side can do the double on Johnstone Burgh, but knows it will be difficult to replicate their victory over the big-spending side on Saturday.

The Bonny ran out 3-2 winners on the road back in August and now welcome third-place Burgh, who sit two points above them, to Hannah Park on Saturday to close out 2023.

Burgh are packed full of talent, including ex-Rangers midfielder Graham Dorrans, and McKeown said: “It will be a really tough one.

“Johnstone Burgh are still most people’s favourites to get promoted.

“But we can take confidence from our victory there at the start of the season when we played well.

“They have added five or six quality players to their squad since then, so we know it is going to be difficult.

“That’s what you can do when you have the kind of budget that they have.

“Kyle Lafferty wasn’t playing in that last game and he is still injured, but they still had Graham Dorrans so they still had real quality in their side.

“So far our young squad are doing us proud and hopefully they can again on Saturday.”

Shotts warmed up for the game with a friendly win over local rivals Wishaw on December 21, where a Paul McGeough double and a Harry Kent strike earned victory.

McKeown added: “We beat Wishaw in a friendly, which we took on just to keep us ticking over, so that was good to get something in. The boys will be in for a couple of sessions before the Burgh game and we’ll see how it goes.”

Kick-off on Saturday is 1.30pm.

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