ALBION CUP WOE
THE last five years at Burton Albion has seen a seemingly endless sequence of watershed moments.
A play-off final defeat, a League Two title, back-to-back promotions, two seasons in the second tier of English football, a first relegation in more than 40 years and a historic run to the League Cup quarterfinals.
But throughout that time, for all the highs and the lows, Albion’s record in the FA Cup has been almost entirely forgettable.
They did little to rectify that situation on Saturday, as their journey ended in the first round in a flat 2-1 defeat at League One rivals Scunthorpe United.
It is the fifth time in a row they have lost their first FA Cup fixture of the campaign.
On the previous four occasions, it could be argued those defeats were inconsequential in the bigger picture of the season.
But manager Nigel Clough made absolutely no bones about how disappointed he was at this early exit and his team’s first-half display during a deflating defeat.
It was during the first 45 minutes at Walsall seven days previously that Albion seized control of the game and laid the foundations for an eyecatching 3-1 win.
A week on, the first half at Scunthorpe saw the game decided against them.
Clough named an unchanged side from the one that beat the Saddlers, indicative of a desire to progress in the competition and the need for the Brewers to maintain recent momentum.
Sure enough, the Brewers got on to the front foot from kick-off against an Iron side who had been on a fivegame losing streak before drawing last weekend.
But while they bossed possession, the visitors lacked the incision, accuracy and tempo that had proved too much for Walsall, with sloppy passes and decision-making preventing them from opening the Scunthorpe defence up.
The hosts flooded the central areas, with James Perch and exBrewer Matty Lund racing around to close down the space and pressure Albion’s midfield trio of Stephen Quinn, Jamie Allen and Scott Fraser.
Jake Hesketh curled an early chance over, before Fraser, able to find some space down the right box, beat his man to deliver a low centre into the six-yard box.
Devante Cole dived in to get a touch but his effort was well held by Jak Alnwick.
The breakthrough came at the other end, as Burton’s lack of composure told in defence, too.
Kyle McFadzean brought down Ryan Colclough on the edge of the Albion box and George Thomas stepped up to curl the free kick at goal.
His effort looked to have taken a deflection as it reached Bradley Collins, who could only parry it, and Perch was quickest to react, stooping to steer a header into the net.
That setback called for some calm from Burton.
But instead of rallying to grab an equaliser before the break, they found themselves in a tougher position after 33 minutes.
Again, they had a hand in their own downfall.
Damien McCrory, the only remaining player from Burton’s last FA Cup win, over Fleetwood Town in December 2013, tried to guide the ball back to Collins with his head.
But he only picked out Lee Novak, who read his intention and rolled a composed finish under the Albion keeper.
For a side like Scunthorpe, desperate to turn around their recent struggles, a two-goal advantage was always one they would battle intensely to protect.
Unable to dominate through the middle, Burton’s attacking play came down the channels, where the final ball into the area was too often cut out.
They almost got a reprieve from a sloppy Scunthorpe moment, when Alnwick mishit a clearing kick.
It flew only as far as Quinn, who returned a low shot with interest, first time – but Alnwick recovered in time to dive across and tip it wide.
After the break, Scunthorpe set the Brewers an obvious task. Come and break us down.
Stuart McCall’s organised outfit kept men behind the ball, inviting their rivals on and waiting patiently for a misplaced pass or for Albion to make the wrong decision in the final third, as they too often did.
When they were breached, they could rely on the brilliant Alnwick, who replicated the form he showed to secure his team a goalless draw at the Pirelli Stadium in September’s League meeting.
One double save, to thwart substitute David Templeton and then Boyce from the rebound, was outstanding, while he denied Albion’s leading scorer again, moments later, at his near post.
By the end, Burton had registered 17 shots, including eight on target, to Scunthorpe’s seven and three. Boyce eventually got the better of the Iron goalkeeper after 79 minutes, ending his eight-game wait for
Albion became increasingly desperate, in and out of possession and Scunthorpe held on. Joshua Murray
a goal.
He linked well with Allen in the Scunthorpe box, latching on to a bakcheeled pass and arrowing a low shot inside the left-hand upright.
But again, when composure and quality were called for in the dying stages as the chance of securing a replay beckoned, the visitors were lacking.
Templeton and Marvin Sordell came off the bench to add more attacking impetus on the flanks but Sordell was forced off again with a knee injury.
Clough switched to a back three to get more players upfield, pinning the Iron back.
But they became increasingly desperate, in and out of possession, and Scunthorpe held on to secure their place in Monday’s second-round draw.
Clough was frank in his strong post-match assessments, questioning whether his side had crossed the line from confident to complacent after the class of their recent performances.
There is understandable reason for confidence when things are working, as they did against Walsall and Nottingham Forest before them in the Carabao Cup.
But the question mark remains over their ability to do that on a sustained basis, against a range of opponents in a range of match situations.