‘Different qualities’ in evidence for victory, says Nigel
NIGEL Clough says Burton Albion showed “a different set of qualities” to secure a hard-earned victory over Shrewsbury Town.
Goals from Liam Boyce and Scott Fraser laid the platform for Albion’s eighth League One win of the season but it was the way the players battled and retained their defensive composure in challenging conditions that did most to secure them all three points.
The in-form Shrews, behind to Boyce’s early opener, put Burton under long spells of pressure with a strong wind in their favour for the second half.
But the hosts stood firm and keeper Bradley Collins was rarely tested, leaving Clough pleased with his side’s “ugly” qualities.
“I think, in the circumstances, the conditions and everything that we had to contend with, it’s a brilliant, brilliant three points,” said Clough.
“I don’t think we played anywhere near as well as we did against Charlton Athletic and in some of the defeats here this season.
“We showed a different set of qualities to get the three points in the second half.
“You saw when the ball went up in the air how much it was swirling around.
“It was holding up one minute, it was running on the next and it makes it difficult for players at any level to play in those conditions.
“Despite that, I thought in the first half we did get it down and played a few times and we created a few openings.
“But in the second half, with the wind behind them, they just put us under a lot of pressure and it was all about our battling qualities.
“I thought we deserved a clean sheet because, for all the pressure in the second half, Brad had very few saves to make.
“The back four deserved to keep a clean sheet.”
Boyce got Burton on the front foot with a third-minute opener, charging down Steve Arnold’s clearance and watching it roll into the unguarded net.
“You get a start like that after a few minutes and it gives everybody a lift,” said Clough.
“It has an element of luck to it but you deserve that if you go and close a goalkeeper down with the genuine intent that you’re going to get the ball or get a block in, not just put a shirt there halfheartedly.
“He didn’t do that, from the second it was on its way back, he chased the goalkeeper down. “That’s maybe the second piece of luck we’ve had in six months, so we’ve certainly been due some.
“Then it’s a completely different goal, the second one, a brilliant finish in off the far post.”
The Brewers lost centre-half Kyle McFadzean with a hip injury after 57 minutes and Clough said it was unclear as yet how serious the injury might prove.
McFadzean was injured in a collision with Fejiri Okenabirhie as he cleared from the Shrewsbury striker and while he tried to continue after treatment, he was forced off soon afterwards, failing to finish a League game for the first time since missing September’s 3-0 win over AFC Wim- Nigel Clough Fejiri Okenabirhie slots Shrewsbury Town’s goal past Burton Albion goalkeeper Brad Collins in the 95th minute at the Pirelli Stadium but it was too late to change the result and (right) a couple of minutes later Stephen Quinn was showing the Brewers supporters his delight as they left the field with a hard-earned 2-1 win. bledon due to suspension.
While Jake Buxton replaced him, a third centre-half, Ben Turner, made his return from a calf injury when replacing Will Miller later in the half.
“McFadzean was injured, Miller wasn’t, that was more tactical,” said Clough.
“McFadzean got a good whack on the hip when he came across and made the clearance, then he went down and he couldn’t continue. “Jake came on and did very well. “The other one was just to get us some height with Ben Turner, so we put him to left-back and moved Reece Hutchinson on one to battle away for us. That was the reason Will Miller came off.
“We are hoping it is just a contact injury for McFadzean, it’s how quickly it settles down.
“It’s good and it’s bad. It’s good that it is that sort of injury, an impact one, but we’ll just have to see how quickly it eases and the pain goes.
“He was clearly struggling when he came off.”
I think, in the circumstances and the conditions, it’s a brilliant, brilliant three points.