Brayford led way in defence for Brewers, while Sam got back to his best
With Burton Albion’s 2021-22 season passing into memory, we are taking a look at the squad who represented the club during a frustrating campaign which nonetheless included some highlights and in which some players enhanced their reputations, others less so. Today, a look at the defenders.
By COLSTON CRAWFORD
THERE is something of a blurring of the lines when it comes to who was a defender and who a midfielder in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s 2021-22 squad.
Some players we thought were signed as defenders played mostly in midfield, some the opposite and quite a few did both. And, after all, is a wing-back a defender or a midfielder?
The situation gave supporters who like to criticise more ammunition – it suited them to suggest the Brewers had seven defenders on the pitch at times and the fact that quite a lot of players are capable of performing both roles was lost.
For the purposes of this review – with one exception – I will count defenders as those classified as such on the club’s squad list and who mainly played in defence.
The most obvious thing is that, for a team who went 20 games without a clean sheet, the Brewers had some strong performers, individually, in defence.
JOHN BRAYFORD
Quite obviously, Brayford is the starting point.
The club captain had an exemplary season, starting it at right-back but really blossoming when he moved into the middle of the back three.
Anticipation and covering when others get beaten have always been among his strengths but they are even more evident when he is playing centrally.
Add in six goals, his best return in a single season, and you have a man who was, if there is such a thing, the first name on the team sheet.
You would not have guessed he was 34 and, assuming he wishes to do so, there seems no reason for him not to lead the team and the defence again next season.
SAM HUGHES
Hughes began the season in a second loan spell from Leicester City but still in rehab from the cruciate ligament injury he had suffered playing for the Brewers the previous season.
It was a show of faith from Burton to bring him back in those circumstances and manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink talked of him as a future captain.
Hughes’ form fluctuated when he did get back into the team and signed the permanent deal that had been expected in January but to have expected perfection as soon as he returned would have been harsh.
Obviously, he had no real pre-season and he had to build confidence in his body again.
But in the run of four clean sheets near the end of the season, he was looking back to his best and we can expect the full deal next season.
DEJI OSHILAJA
Oshilaja’s occasional mistakes in defence took the shine off what was largely an impressive first season with the club.
While not especially tall, he is a powerful man, the sort people will think twice about going full pelt into a 50-50 with.
He is wholehearted too and Burton looked the better for it when he was going well.
Whether his best position is in the middle, on the left of a back three, as an orthodox full-back or as a defensive midfielder – well, the jury is out. He had a go at them all.
On occasions, too, he showed a sprightly turn of pace when spotting an opportunity to join the attack, whichever position he was starting from.
CAMERON BORTHWICK-JACKSON
There are always players who divide opinion among supporters and “CBJ” is one.
He has a languid air on the pitch, which causes some to see him as casual but that is a misconception and a succession of head injuries suggest bravery was not an issue.
Sometimes, he looked very classy on the ball. Some of his passing was excellent and twice he got on the end of things in the box to score.
He also gets caught out of position at times and, especially when he was playing at left-back or on the left of the back three, crosses and dangerous runs by the opposition were too often coming from his side.
He tended to look more comfortable in midfield and was there for the run of clean sheets late in the season. There must be more to come from him.
RYAN LEAK
Signed late after being spotted on trial for Portsmouth against the Brewers in pre-season, Burton-born
Leak immediately looked the part in the friendly against Leicester City and started the season in the team, forming what looked a good partnership with Conor Shaughnessy.
Fans liked him but he must be one of those cases of a manager seeing something the fans do not, because he did not keep his place in the team and it is quite surprising to look back now and realise he made only 14 League starts.
CONOR SHAUGHNESSY
Shaughnessy impressed on loan in the 2019-20 season but, at 25, he had perhaps spent too long hoping to make it with Leeds United and this has been his first full season of regular football.
He has acquitted himself well, with 43 appearances and while the club list him as a midfielder, I am including him here as a defender – he looked best, to me, as a commanding central defender.
Either way, he looks a proper footballer and it will be good to see him kick on next season.
WILLIAM KOKOLO
Signed in January from Middlesbrough, the French-born 21-yearold has showed great promise in 15 appearances, mostly at left wingback.
He never shirked defensive responsibilities in the role and, a couple of times, threatened to terrorise the opposition going forward.
His goal against Cambridge United was technically excellent, a controlled low strike from the edge of the box. He is an exciting prospect.
FRAZER BLAKE-TRACY
It simple hasn’t worked out for
Blake-tracy after signing from Peterborough United.
The left-back had one particularly good game, away to Fleetwood Town, but was prone to costly mistakes and finished with only seven League appearances.
He has a year to run on his contract but will he be moved on or loaned out? It seems likely.
MICHAEL MANCIENNE
A new deal offered to Mancienne, at 34, was perhaps the decision that raised most eyebrows when the retained list came out.
Often described as a Rolls-royce of defenders in his first season with the club, he was less dominant in his second, collecting a few niggles and accumulating 11 bookings – all too many of them when he arrived late into a challenge.
Weighed against that, he looked very good again during the late season run of clean sheets.
Hasselbaink values his experience.
TOM HAMER
Hamer’s energy-laden performances and the three goals he scored in the later stages of last season, arriving in the box with timely runs, led me to the quiet prediction that he would be the stand-out player this time around and be capable of threatening double figures for goals.
Perhaps I was not the only one setting the bar of expectation unrealistically high.
I was a mile out on the goal prediction, his only one being a looping header against Gillingham. Hamer did most of his work from left-back last season.
This time he was on his natural right side but mostly playing as a wing-back.
Oddly, he looked less of a threat from there and his crossing must improve.
But he is only 22 and already charging towards 200 career appearances for Oldham Athletic and Burton.
He reached 50 appearances for the season, way ahead of anyone else and his commitment and athleticism make him a manager’s dream.
As we know, there have been eyes on him all season and they will still be on him now.