City defeat should have left Albion ‘more angry’
NIGEL Clough says his Burton Albion side were “not angry enough” in Saturday’s League One defeat to Gillingham.
The Brewers headed into their home meeting with the Gills on the back of a heavy 9-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Clough hoped that result, against one of the strongest sides in Europe, would not impact their recent upturn in the League.
But while Albion dominated Steve Lovell’s men for long spells at the Pirelli Stadium, they gave themselves a mountain to climb after trailing 2-0 at half-time and Scott Fraser’s double to level the scores was then cancelled out by Josh Rees’ stoppage-time winner.
And Clough felt his players did not do enough to use the frustrations of their Manchester City humbling to their advantage as they fell to a first League defeat in five outings.
“I wanted the players to be a bit angrier on Saturday,” said the Burton boss, who cut a frustrated and vocal figure on the touchline.
“I wanted them to be as angry as we have been in the week.
“When you suffer, no matter at the hands of who, you can’t wait for your next game and you really want to take it out on the opposition. “We nearly did that but we weren’t angry enough and not aggressive enough at times.
“I didn’t think we should’ve lost a tackle, such are the feelings you get after the week we’ve had.” Brentford loanee Josh Clarke came off the bench to make his Brewers debut in the second half of Saturday’s loss, when Fraser had levelled the scores and they were looking to complete a remarkable comeback.
Clarke has played at right-back and on the wing in the Championship for his parent club.
While he replaced right-back Ben Fox, the Bees man featured as the right-wing forward, with Lucas Akins shifting back to the full-back role.
“He is comfortable either way,” added Clough.
“His pace, we thought, would cause them problems, so he plays either position and then we just moved Lucas to back him up.
“We just hit a bit of a wall around that time and didn’t continue the momentum with which we played the half.
“There was similar attacking play and for 25, 30 minutes, and in the first half as well, it was absolutely brilliant stuff.
“But you have to back that up with defensive solidity and that’s our problem.”
I didn’t think we should’ve lost a tackle, such are the feelings you get after the week we’ve had Nigel Clough