Extra day’s rest should benefit the Brewers this week

BURTON Albion will hope an extra day’s rest will see them refreshed for Saturday’s League One trip to Doncaster Rovers.

The Brewers’ 3-2 loss against Gillingham was their ninth game in four weeks and manager Nigel Clough gave his players Sunday and Monday off before preparations begin for the Doncaster game yesterday.

That run of games has included the Carabao Cup quarter-final win away to Middlesbrough and the semi-final first-leg thrashing away to Manchester City.

Albion lacked energy in the draws with Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers either side of the new year, although that issue did not seem to affect them in the Gillingham game, even though it was only three days after the City defeat.

“The plan was set, whatever, that the players would have Sunday and Monday off, because they need some recovery time,” said Clough.

“That was our ninth game in 28 days or something like that, which is a ridiculous schedule.

“That was no excuse on Saturday – it wasn’t physical. It was the usual things of desire to keep the ball out of your net and to do the right thing over the course of 98 minutes. We didn’t do that enough.

“They’ve had a couple of days off, we’ve spent a bit of time in the video room to go over some things and we’re starting again ready for next week.”

The second leg of Burton’s League Cup semi-final against Manchester City takes place at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday January 23.

They have only one other midweek game before March, with the away game at Barnsley now rescheduled for Tuesday, February 19. Devante Cole on the attack against Luton Town in the game before Christmas – his last start and his last appearance for the Brewers, as it has turned out.