Clough expects top four to be the same in May

Nigel Clough expects the current League One top four to be the same at the end of the season.

Clough’s Burton sit 17th in the table after a mixed start to the season, eight points behind the Black Cats in fourth.

The Sunderland-born boss believes that the Black Cats can push for the top two but does not expect them to finish any lower than their current spot.

Clough said: “I think a few of the leagues are still a bit topsy-turvy at the moment but I don’t think League One is.

“I think the top four will be the top four and I think the automatic promotion will come from those.

“Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Barnsley, they look the strongest teams. Anybody else past that will be trying to catch up. “I don’t think anybody doubted that Sunderland would be up there even after the last few seasons,” he added. “They’ve got a strong squad, 30,000 people at home. It takes us ten home games to get that. That gives you an idea of the difference in revenues.

“They’ll certainly fill the away end and they’d probably fill two other stands if we had the capacity,” he added.

“Their support has never been in doubt and we’re looking forward to it, it’ll be a good game. “It’s two teams who were both in the Championship last season, battling to get back there if we can.”

Clough will be able to call upon star striker Liam Boyce on Saturday after his return from international duty with Northern Ireland.

It was Boyce’s goal that condemned Sunderland to the drop the last time the two sides met, at the Stadium of Light in April.

The Burton boss has a number of other injury problems, however, particularly in goal where he could be forced to a hand a full senior debut to 22-year-old Harry Campbell.

Defenders Jake Buxton, Damien McCrory, John Brayford are all struggling with injuries, as is winger David Templeton.