Clough’s tired of Pirelli luck
NIGEL CLOUGH pondered whether the Brewers are cursed on their own pitch after an unlucky 13th league game without a victory.
An ugly 61st-minute goal by Ben Marshall was the sole difference between two sides currently heading in very different directions.
Millwall’s fourth successive away win came despite a performance manager Neil Harris described as “one of our worst on the road”.
Clough’s frustration was understandable after Darren Bent, the loan striker charged with the responsibility of easing their Pirelli goal drought, spurned three firsthalf chances.
“Has someone cursed us at this place?” asked Clough. “We have created chances and situations but yet again not had a break – and lost to a fluky goal.
“We played well, getting Jacob Davenport on the ball but the hardest part of the game is putting the ball in the net.
“If Darren Bent had been doing that all season for Derby, he wouldn’t be here now. Having missed the first one, he probably snatched a little at the second chance.
“We could have won four games on the spin. Instead we’re probably worse off in the league than we were a week ago.”
Bent’s opportunities came after the no-nonsence Lions had snuffed out Burton’s bright start. Twice he got beyond the last defender. The excellent Jake Cooper recovered to block his first shot before he blazed another wildly off target from the edge of the area.
The former England striker’s frustration was completed when he guided a header wide just before the break.
Harris admitted Millwall’s winner wasn’t exactly from the Marshall textbook. Renowned for his long-range specials, he got his chest in the way of Jed Wallace’s towering cross and that was just enough to send the ball bouncing apologetically beyond Stephen Bywater.
Burton launched a spirited response with defender Tom Naylor planting a far-post header over the bar from almost point-blank range and Shaun Hutchinson slicing Lloyd Dyer’s cross agonisingly close to his own net.
When Naylor steered a header wide from inside the box in stoppage time, Burton’s cause was lost.
There are simpler explanations than witchcraft why they have picked up just two points in 39 at the Pirelli. They lack a goalscorer, a job a fully matchfit Bent could yet fill.
They got plenty of praise and encouragement here from Harris but need more than hard-luck stories to avoid the drop to League One. Harris, meanwhile, hurdled questions about Millwall’s outside play-off hopes which, on this evidence, are far more remote than Burton staying up.
They were physical and organised but offered very little real quality to light up a freezing afternoon.
Harris said: “We’re going like a steam train – we don’t fear anyone in this division.
“The little bit of luck we have had today has been coming. We played far better on our travels earlier in the season. It was probably our worst performance on the road bar Norwich.
“If I was Burton, I’d be disappointed they didn’t get anything from it.
“From what I’ve seen, Burton have got the players, spirit and belief to be ok – they just need a bit of luck in front of goal.”