JOHNSTONE Burgh boss Jamie McKim reckons his players were punished for “criminal” defending as they were held to a draw by Cumbernauld United on Saturday.

The Keanie Park side came from behind to earn a point after Klark Thomson had given the visitors the lead eight minutes before the break.

Burgh were on top for much of the second half but had to wait until the closing stages to find their equaliser as Phil Lee controlled a Cumbernauld clearance and then curled home an unstoppable effort.

McKim feels it was two points dropped and has urged his troops to improve their defensive efforts.

He told Gazette Sport: “We can’t give away goals like the one we did on Saturday. It was criminal.

“We need to realise there is a big step up in the opposition from last season and we need to be at it all the time.”

However, McKim was pleased with the quality of Burgh’s equaliser and feels his team did enough to win the game.

“Phil has that in his locker,” he said. “He’s one of the most talented players at the club. I just need to get that out of him more often.

“He can be a match-winner but he needs to want it.

“If you’d spoken to me on Saturday and again a few days later, you’d get two different answers on how I thought the game went.

“I thought we were poor in the first half but, when I watched it back, we were decent.

“In the second half, we were by far the stronger side and more likely to score and, when we did, I felt it was a matter of time before we got another.

“The amount my players put into the game was unbelievable and it’s just disappointing they didn’t get the rewards.”

Burgh are back in action at Keanie Park this Saturday as Blantyre Victoria, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season, come to town, with kick-off at 2pm.

Blantyre have started the season well, occupying second place in the First Division, but a win for Burgh will see them leapfrog their opponents – and McKim is optimistic about his team’s chances against anyone on home turf.

He said: “This weekend will be really tough but, when we’re at home, I believe in my squad to beat anybody, so there is no fear.”