Scot Jon has last laugh for Brewers
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink was satisfied with a less than beautiful display of football from Burton, despite the Brewers missing the chance to temporarily move top of League Two at Southend.
Brewers keeper Jon McLaughlin made a string of fine saves to keep the scores level as Phil Brown’s side – beaten by Burton in last season’s play-off semi-final – threw everything and the kitchen sink at the visitors.
But Hasselbaink has now lost just once in six games as Albion boss, and admitted their fighting spirit was the key to grinding out the point.
“We did magnificently well,” he said.“It was a physical test and we knew that from the start it was going to be a game of men.
“It’s a difficult place to come, and to play with that kind of character, commitment and determination was very important.
“I’ve said to them that they cannot play beautifully every game. Sometimes you have to fight for what you want and it was one of those games.
“They started like a house on fire and we had to come up with an answer.
“I’m very proud of the boys – they stuck together.
“At times we could’ve played a little bit better, but it was just one of those games that character would shine through if you wanted to get a result here.”
Kevan Hurst came closest to opening the scoring, turning well and firing a low effort wide three minutes in but neither side registered a shot on target in the first half.
But McLaughlin had to be alert at the start of the second period to push Ben Coker’s low free-kick around the post, and Burton responded ten minutes later as Stuart Beavon hit an effort straight at Daniel Bentley.
McLaughlin then produced two saves to deny Southend targetman Barry Corr, the second a stunning stop as he somehow tipped a closerange header over the bar on 62 minutes from Hurst’s freekick.
And while Shrimpers boss Brown was disappointed not to come away with the win, he was delighted with the defensive response after they went down 4-1 to Wycombe last week.
“I’m very pleased because Burton are a good side and we’ve defended well against them,” he said.
“Last weekend it hurt me seeing us concede four goals like that at Wycombe and this was for more like it.
“We showed more resolve, good character and discipline and I was delighted with how we defended.
“In the end it was a good point for both teams and it wasn’t for the want of trying that we didn’t get the win.”