Clough: Our spirit can count for a lot

Nigel Clough recognises the gulf in class between his Burton side and Manchester City, but believes their fighting spirit can count for a lot in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Clough will take his League One side north to the Etihad Stadium to face Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions tonight, having not even dared show them any scouting videos.

But it is not by accident that his side have seen off Aston Villa, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough in this competition so far and he wants them to show what they can do.

“It’s just the determination and the character, which is why we’ve got to this stage,” he said.

“Ability-wise we’re at a different level but we have a certain grit and determination.

“It doesn’t work in all the games and we have had more luck in this competition than within the league over the four or five games.”

League One Wigan knocked City out of the FA Cup last season, but that was a one-off match, and Clough believes for Burton to repeat the trick in a twolegged tie and reach Wembley would resemble one of the biggest cup shocks ever.

“Wigan beat them at home with one shot,” he said. “Over one leg you can do that but over 180 minutes it’s a different ball game, especially with the first one being at their place.”

Clough has proud memories of the League Cup, having won it twice as a player in his father’s Nottingham Forest side.

The League Cup may no longer be everyone’s cup of tea – with Guardiola admitting it was fourth out of four on his list of priorities this season – but it was under Brian that Nigel learned standards should be maintained whatever the occasion.

“It wasn’t about winning, it was about the performance as well,” he said.