Busy, crucial spell in prospect for Burton’s hopes

NIGEL Clough knows Burton Albion’s League One form over Christmas could “make the difference” to their season ambitions.

The Brewers sit 14th ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood Town, with 27 points from 20 games – one match fewer than most in the division have played.

They have six League games coming up before the end of the first weekend in January, as well as a historic Carabao Cup quarter-final at Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough next Tuesday.

Clough’s side are eight points adrift of the play-off places and sitting in a congested middle section of the table, with their immediate target being to move into the top half for the first time this season.

And with 18 points up for grabs over the next four weeks, Clough knows the next month could be a crucial one for any mid-table side hoping to claw back the top six and enjoy an exciting second half to the campaign.

“The next couple of months, December and January, purely because there are so many points at stake in a short period of time, can make a huge difference,” he said.

“In the Christmas period, certainly.

“When you think we are going to play December 15, 22, 26 and 29, January 1 and 5, that’s a lot of League points at stake in a short period.

“So that’s where it can make the difference and you want to be there or thereabouts after those games.”

Burton are away at Fleetwood on Saturday and Luton Town on December 22, before back-toback home meetings with Wycombe Wanderers (December 26) and Plymouth Argyle (December 29) before the end of 2018.

Away games against Bristol Rovers (January 1) and Rochdale (January 5) round out the festive period.