Paul’s backed for ...England
BURTON ALB 2 Irvine 12, Akins 49 CARDIFF CITY 0
UNDER-FIRE Cardiff manager Paul Trollope hopes the international break comes to his rescue after travelling fans mocked him during this meek surrender at Burton.
A fifth defeat in six games was bad enough but the boss faced chants of “Trollope for England” and “getting sacked in the morning” – only to sympathise with the angry supporters.
“I understand their frustration. I’m frustrated in myself and the position we are in,” he said.
“It’s not nice to hear but I can’t complain about the fans. They have come in big numbers considering the position we are in and given us good support.
“We shot ourselves in the foot by conceding poor goals.
“We have three or four key players injured and Rickie (Lambert) tried his best to get through the game. Maybe the break will be good for us.”
Aussie international Jackson Irvine and Lucas Akins netted for a mature Burton who continue to defy the Championship odds.
Irvine, a bargain £330,000 summer signing from Ross County, is fast becoming Burton’s ‘Jacko’ in the box. This was his fifth league goal already.
Clough’s summer signings certainly played key roles with skipper Kyle McFadzean and the seasoned duo of Lloyd Dyer and Chris O’Grady all impressing.
But their star performer, much to Cardiff ’s chagrin, was rugged former Bluebird Ben Turner who never gave former England striker Lambert a sniff.
Storm clouds may have drenched the Pirelli Stadium, but the forecast on the pitch has never been brighter for Nigel Clough’s braves.
In stark contrast, Cardiff were predictable, sterile and poor, the dark humour of their fans perfectly highlighting their current plight.
Their torment started as early as the 12th minute. Burton’s hustle and bustle kept an Akins cross alive as Jamie Ward flicked on for Irvine to sweep a low left footer beyond the scrambling Ben Amos from the edge of the box.
Peter Whittingham stung Jon McLaughlin’s palms with a rising left footer and the lively Craig Noone saw a shot squeeze past a post when he should have levelled.
Yet, save for a fortunate deflection, McFadzean would have doubled the lead from 12 yards in the 42nd minute.
There was no such reprieve four minutes after the break. McFadzean nodded Matty Palmer’s free -kick back across goal and Akins headed joyfully home at the far post.
Turner’s typically rumbustious challenge denied Lambert soon after but the storm came more from the heavens than Cardiff, despite Trollope throwing on three substitutes.
McLaughlin stretched out a long arm to foil Whittingham and the job was done bar the shouting – with most of that aimed at the Cardiff manager.
Burton assistant boss Andy Garner said: “Knowing they are not in the best of form, we wanted to be on the front foot and we started very brightly.
“It was a fantastic finish from Jacko. Keeping the ball hard and low was ideal in those conditions.
“For us, it was the wetter the better. It was incredibly important to get three points.
“The captain (Kyle McFadzean) was magnificent. All the back three and the keeper played well and it was a fantastic clean sheet.”