Pato wants Albion to rise to challenge
AFTER the frustration of a second successive midweek postponement – but on the back of an outstanding away win against Bristol Rovers last Saturday – Burton Albion are on the road again tomorrow to take on inform Leyton Orient.
Since the Brewers drew 0-0 with the London side in a turgid game at the Pirelli Stadium in October, the O’s have gone on a fine run of form, an eight-game unbeaten run carrying them to the brink of an unlikely play-off push following promotion from League Two last season.
Two late goals by Barnsley ended that run in a 2-1 defeat last Saturday but they hit back to nick a thriller against Northampton Town 4-3 in midweek.
It promises to be a big test for Paterson’s evolving side and he discussed that and much more in his Thursday press conference. Here are his responses to some of the questions he faced.
Orient promise to be a tough nut to crack, don’t they? MP:
They’re in a healthy position in the league and it’s not over. There’s lots of football to be played and lots of points to be played for.
We’re well aware of their quality and their form but, again, the focus goes on to us. We have to implement what we do.
We’re looking forward to the challenge and it is a tough one but a good one.
A challenge shouldn’t be a negative, it’s a positive. Every week when you look at League One, there are tough games but they are opportunities to compete – with opportunities to take on people like Orient, who are higher in the league, and opportunities for these young men to show how good they are.
And there’s much more to come from the Brewers? MP:
Of the five games I’ve had, I’ve had one performance that I’ve not been happy with. The others have been good.
Bristol Rovers was a good performance in isolation but the group have been good for me and performances have been generally good. Now it’s about moving forward and for them to keep believing in themselves.
I believe there is a lot more to come, although the timescale for
that is not certain, I can’t say when it will all piece together.
They are a lot better than they believe and, at the moment, they’re slowly, gradually getting better as we go.
There will be bumps in the road, there will be dips, when it doesn’t go our way but that’s the league and it’s tough. But I know I have a really good group who work really hard and are humble and are really listening to the detail I’m giving them.
The win against Rovers was Burton’s first on the road since October. Is improving the away form a priority? MP:
I can only talk about the three away games since I’ve been here. We should have had a point at
Derby, we got a well-earned point at Cambridge and we won at Bristol Rovers, so I’m not worried. I go back to the hunting mentality, we’re chasing down teams ahead of us.
Was it a blessing in disguise that the game was off on Tuesday? MP:
We wanted to play, so did Carlisle, but for player safety, it was probably the right decision to make.
But yes, you can flip it to the positive, it keeps people fresh for the weekend.
After this weekend, as well, the suspensions are done and we thicken up the squad, which will be really good for the games coming up.
Competition will increase and increase and be really good for us for team selection. It gives me some really good problems.
Is Sam Hughes edging closer to a return? MP:
Sam is being monitored continuously and when he’s fit and ready to play properly he’ll be involved.
Until then he won’t be because it’s only fair to him, his team-mates and the club that when he does come back, he stays back.
It’s a calf injury. I don’t pretend to be a physio or a doctor.
All I know is that someone of his importance and quality needs to be fully fit before we can put him back out there. He is important but only if it’s safe and fair for him.
He is closing in on a return but I’m making sure he is right because I only want people on the field who can give 100% – and he is a 100-percenter.
He gives everything for the club and has done since the first day he’s been here.
How about the other injuries and the squad’s general fitness? MP:
Jasper’s Moon’s knee injury is significant but it won’t be too long.
I believe it’s going to be around three or four weeks. It’s not serious but significant enough to miss a few weeks.
Jasper has been a fantastic character for me. I coached him at Barnsley, he’s tough and I think he is likely to dip under that window of time for his return.
Toto Nsiala came off with cramp (against Bristol Rovers on his debut).
He hadn’t played for a while so the cramp just came and got him.
It happens. He did ever so well and I think a free week to attack the Leyton Orient game will have been good for Toto.
There are still a few playing through the February pain barrier, which is part and parcel of having a smaller squad but we’re looking forward to a push now with the suspensions out of the way and everybody back.
Then the competition can really ramp up until the end of the season.
There’s no urgency to rush players back from injury but an urgency to have them back for competition because I think that makes everybody better.