PLAN B HAS TO SUCCEED FOR CLOUGH

NIGEL CLOUGH is banking on his ‘B Team’ of Darren Bent and Liam Boyce to keep Burton in the Championship.

Clough says it is tougher this time around than when he pulled off his astonishing miracle and kept little Burton up last season.

“Compared to this time last season, our chances of staying up are not as good,” admitted Clough (above). “We are bottom, four points adrift. I don’t think we were last season. We’ve got some ground to gain.”

Burton should have won, but could not score after Forest had Eric Lichaj sent off for a bad tackle with over an hour left.

Manager Aitor Karanka is reshaping Forest and was pleased with the way they held out.

“We showed the character we need,” he said. ”That’s the key. We can start to build something.”

The Brewers’ home form is dismal with 10 defeats and two points from their last 12 games.

But if they beat Barnsley away tomorrow they will leap over them and be on the verge of climbing out of the bottom three.

Clough is banking on Bent and Boyle for goals. Neither, he concedes, are fully ready.

Bent is still getting used to his loan at Burton. Club record signing Boyce is only just playing again after knee surgery.

Clough added: “We haven’t time for Bent and Boyce to find fitness and form. We have to put them out there. That’s our only option. If they get sharper, at least we’ve got a chance.”