Quick start will be as crucial as ever for Burton at Fleetwood
COD ARMY HAVE BAD RECORD, SO FAR, IN GAMES WHEN THEY HAVE CONCEDED FIRST
ONE statistic will not have gone unnoticed on the Burton Albion training ground this week as they prepare for Saturday’s League One trip to Fleetwood Town.
Joey Barton’s side were beaten 2-0 away to high-flying Luton Town – Burton’s next League opponents after their Highbury test – in their last outing.
It was Fleetwood’s eighth defeat of the campaign – and the seventh time they have failed to take a point after conceding the first goal.
While they were succumbing to Harry Cornick’s strike and an own goal from Craig Morgan, the Brewers were capitalising on Liam Boyce’s third-minute opener to beat Shrewsbury Town.
On a wet and windy afternoon at the Pirelli Stadium, playing at a high level of intensity was not easy.
But, for the first half-hour against the Shrews, Burton were at their high-energy best and Boyce got his reward by charging down a goalkeeping clearance to register the first goal.
Their pressing game was wellorganised and disciplined, yet frantic when it needed to be, with the attacking midfield ranks of Scott Fraser, Jamie Allen, Jake Hesketh and Will Miller leading the efforts.
That energy and intensity is key to Albion’s game, both with and without the ball, and it has caught a few teams cold this season.
It was most notable in the impressive 3-1 win at Walsall last month.
Sunderland, Charlton Athletic and Southend United are other sides who have been outplayed by Albion in the first half of games.
Nigel Clough has spoken about wanting those fast starts every week and there has been disappointment when they have not materialised.
He will certainly be stressing its importance ahead of Saturday’s game – especially if his side can grab the first goal.
Like the Brewers, Fleetwood’s campaign has been dogged by inconsistency – and the club are level on 27 points at this stage.
But one recurring factor seems to be the Cod Army’s struggles to battle
Making a fast start is one thing, of course, but maintaining performance levels is another entirely