It might be more of the same as Albion aim to hit back
ROBINS ALSO LOOKING TO PROVE LEAGUE ONE POINT
FOR the second successive game, Burton Albion are up against one of the teams promoted from League Two when Cheltenham Town come to the Pirelli Stadium tonight (7.45pm).
The game is also being televised live and offers up an intriguing clash in several ways.
For the Brewers, it is the first time they will be looking to respond to a defeat, after being beaten 3-0 away to Cambridge United last week.
They may well encounter a similar sort of game, with opponents looking to make the point that they belong at the higher level.
Burton manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has not changed his view on last week’s defeat – the Brewers were not at their best but should still have been looking to escape with at least a draw.
With the benefit of hindsight, though, the manager wonders whether or not he should still have gone with an unchanged side.
“Looking back, we weren’t at our best, as I said after the match but we still had the better chances,” said Hasselbaink.
“It’s a pity we didn’t get at least a draw out of the game but in a way it was one too many after we’d had two really energetic games in a small spell against Ipswich and Sunderland.
“Perhaps we might have made two or three changes.
“We already knew that it would be a tough game and we can’t take anything for granted.”
The same will be true of Cheltenham, who went up as League Two champions to land their first outright title in the Football League, although they had previously been promoted to League One.
Burton chairman Ben Robinson has often cited Cheltenham, for many years a non-League club, as one run along similarly sustainable lines to his own.
Their manager, Michael Duff made more than 300 appearances for Cheltenham as a centre-half, being promted to the League with them, and added 388 more for Burnley in a two-club playing career before being given his first managerial job with the Robins two years ago.
They lost in the play-offs in his first season before lifting the League Two title last year.
They have started with defeats to Fleetwood Town and Wycombe Wanderers, a draw with Crewe Alexandra and – like Burton – a 2-1 win over Ipswich.
“Cheltenham are a good team, very organised, and they have been together for two years,” said Hasselbaink.
“They don’t like giving space away in the wide areas. They are difficult to break down, so it’s going to be a good test.”
Hasselbaink is still waiting for the opportunity to add to his squad and to offload a couple of players but it looks likely to go to the wire with a week left of the transfer window.
Burton have been among the clubs linked with Sheffield United’s teenage striker Daniel Jebbison but some eye-popping figures have been speculated either for loan or purchase, with Everton rumoured to have made a £5m bid.
Hasselbaink remains interested but also feels the Brewers will be priced out of the chase. But he also says he is sure of his targets.
“We want one more striker in, we want a number 10 as well,” he said.
“We have our targets. Sometimes, when you are confident about your targets, you still have to be patient.
“I am not great at being patient! But if we get the two that I am thinking of, I think it will make us a bit stronger. If I have to wait a little bit, I’ll wait.”
Goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara and forward Josh Parker have been told they can find new clubs but, so far, there is no movement on that score either.
“We are trying but it’s harder than we thought,” added Hasselbaink.
The club will welcome the town’s Olympic bronze medal winning boxer Frazer Clarke to tonight’s game.
“We are delighted to be welcoming Frazer back to the Pirelli,” said chairman Ben Robinson.
“I’m sure all Brewers fans will want to give him a massive round of applause and congratulate him on his success.
“He has helped put Burton on the Olympic map and he’s a great inspiration for sporting youngsters.”