Brewers look for an instant reaction after defeat to Dons
BEFORE Saturday, the last time Burton Albion had been outplayed and beaten the response was to go on a six-game winning streak.
Having now lost 2-1 to Milton Keynes Dons, the chance to try to start a similar run again comes tonight at home to Shrewsbury Town (7pm), the other club to embark on a “great escape” from trouble in League One.
The last time the Brewers were outplayed and beaten was also at the Pirelli Stadium, going down 3-0 at home to Sunderland on February 20.
To put that result into some context, the only League One team with better form than Burton over the last 13 matches – the number of games Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has now been in charge – is Sunderland.
Both sides have taken 28 points from their last 13 games but the Black Cats have a better goal difference. They have also lost only one of the games, drawing four, while the Brewers had not drawn under Hasselbaink until last Tuesday, away to Blackpool.
Oddly, perhaps, the fact that tonight’s is also at home is not necessarily a great help to the Brewers.
Brilliant as Hasselbaink’s record so far is, the home record under him is now won three, lost three, while the away record is won six, drawn one.
Does it mean that Burton’s style under Hasselbaink is more suited to playing away from home or is it just coincidence?
I am inclined to think it is coincidence. I do not think Hasselbaink is asking his side to do anything different wherever they are playing.
The much bigger question is whether or not the relentless schedule and Hasselbaink’s demand for an all-action, high-pressing game for all occasions has just begun to take its toll on the players.
There was perhaps not quite the edge they showed in the six-game winning run in the second half of the draw against Blackpool, when the home side came at the Brewers relentlessly through the second half, nor was it there against Milton Keynes.
Then again, every side will have an off-day. Burton did and, in terms of their quick passing coming off, Milton Keynes did not.
When the Brewers drew 1-1 away to the Dons in December, the home side got themselves into trouble repeatedly playing the ball out from the back badly. It did not happen on Saturday.
As Hasselbaink pointed out, Milton Keynes did not create much and, in the end, scored twice from setpieces as surely as if they had been bombarding their opponents with long balls and crosses.
Even so, Burton chased shadows for chunks of the game.
Having recruited to give himself cover for all positions, Hasselbaink has not actually rotated his squad very much unless injury has forced it.
In the last three games, the only difference has been Danny Rowe coming in for Terry Taylor against Blackpool – and Rowe was soon injured in that game.
Going back to the Charlton Athletic midweek match, Hasselbaink chose to rest John Brayford, as he had hinted he might, although the captain was on as a substitute in the 68th minute when Owen Gallacher was injured.
Since then, Brayford has played every minute. Was he a little leggy against Milton Keynes? He would give you short shrift if you suggested it.
Initially, the manager’s hand was forced by Josh Earl getting sent off against Sunderland, which meant Tom Hamer moving to left-back, although he is more naturally a right-back.
Hamer has done so well, though, that Earl cannot get back in, good as he had looked before the red mist moment against the Black Cats.
Likewise, Hasselbaink had not dared rest Michael Bostwick once he and Hayden Carter had established their centre-back partnership. Five of the six games won came with them in tandem.
A change there was also forced by injury and it is not difficult to draw the conclusion that Burton may have defended Milton Keynes’ second goal on Saturday better if Bostwick had been there – the manager will be fuming that three visiting players got headers to a corner before the third one, Warren O’Hora, headed the ball in.
It was all too reminiscent of the defending just prior to Hasselbaink’s arrival, when 13 goals were conceded in three matches.
Michael Mancienne is undoubtedly a class act but he has been better in front of the back four, nipping attacks in the bud, than he has at centre-half in Bostwick’s absence.
So, will we see changes tonight against a Shrewsbury side who are unlikely to play the same way as Crewe, Blackpool and Milton Keynes?
I think we will. The manager has said his whole squad will be needed; now is probably the time to prove it.
One change will be forced, as Terry Taylor departs on international duty. If Bostwick is fit, expect him to return, with Mancienne stepping into Taylor’s place. If Bostwick is not, might John-Joe O’Toole return? He kept a clean sheet alongside Carter away to Gillingham.
After that, does the manager rest Brayford, bring Hamer back to rightback and give Earl another chance at left-back? I think he might.
Does he rest either Sean Clare or Ryan Edwards? Edwards could probably play seven days a week, let alone three but both have done a great deal of running and Clare, notably, had an off day on Saturday.
Will this be another game in which to give Mike Fondop an opportunity? That is another possibility.
I could be wholly wrong but here is a guess at the possible starting line-up tonight, in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation.
BURTON ALBION possible):