Brewers are hit for four again
NOTTINGHAM FOREST are putting up the ‘Miracle Gates’ at the City Ground to honour Nigel Clough’s father Brian.
It looks as if Clough junior is going to need a miracle of his own to keep little Burton in the Championship again this season.
They were hammered for the second successive home game and are a point outside the bottom three.
Big hitters and promotion hopefuls Aston Villa and Wolves have put eight goals past Burton at their Pirelli Stadium home in five days and Clough knows things will have to change – and fast.
“It wasn’t good enough,” he said. “It’s brilliant that we’ve got the two-week international break now.
“I wish it was longer. They couldn’t extend it to a month could they?
“It’s a horrible week for us. We are not giving ourselves a chance. We were 3-0 down at half-time in both games. The game is over from that point.
“I’m pretty pleased I’m not going to see the players for a few days now.”
Keeping Burton at this level of football following their promotion from League One made Clough manager of the year in a lot of people’s eyes – especially those of Villa boss Steve Bruce, who said he voted for him.
But Bruce took Burton apart 4-0 on Tuesday and rampant Wolves followed suit.
They are the biggest hidings Burton have taken at home in the Championship and Clough has some patching up and confidence-rebuilding to do.
For Wolves this was a big statement as they climbed to second place in the Championship, a point behind Cardiff.
Wolves lost only their second game of the season at Sheffield United on Wednesday and boss Nuno wanted a reaction.
He got it big style. “It means a lot to come back from a bad result like that one,” he said.
“We could not stay in that moment of sadness, we had to react. And I am very proud of the boys.
“There is a quarter of the season gone and we gave done well. But my answer to you is that we have a very long way to go .”
Diogo Jota didn’t give Burton a minute’s peace.
He scored his sixth goal of the season after five minutes and could have had more as Romain Saiss and Ruben Vinagre put Wolves three up before halftime.
Substitute Leo Bonatini crashed in the fourth 16 minutes into the second half.
Jota’s goal was scored by a man high on confidence, totally composed as he aimed his shot past Burton goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.
Bywater was at fault six minutes later. He got to Ruben Neves’ 18-yard free-kick but spilled the ball, leaving Saiss to prod in his first Wolves goal.
Burton had an awful lot on their plate to retrieve this one. Every time Wolves attacked they were in trouble.
Jota ended a twisty run with a shot that beat Bywater but Kyle McFadzean cleared, but four minutes before half-time and Wolves were three up. Ivan Cavaleiro and Vinagre exchanged passes and Vinagre finished it off.
Bonatini then smashed in Wolves’ fourth and Burton had been bashed up again for the second time in a week.