Glimmer of Hope for Brewers
AMAN called Hope set up Nigel Clough for his second miracle at Burton.
Defeat and the Brewers were down, but it’s three wins on the bounce now and they have a chance of staying up on shootout Sunday.
Clough’s achievement in keeping Burton in the Championship last season was miracle enough but now he is on the verge of doing it again after having one foot back in League One.
Hope Akpan, with his first goal since a pre-season game with Leicester, put Burton ahead in the 28th minute and provided the pass from which Lucas Akins got the second eight minutes later. Now Burton will be back in a do-or-die situation on Sunday because defeat at Preston will put them down.
“That was as good a home performance as we’ve had. Two good goals and then we defended well,” said Clough.
“We are learning. It might be too late, we don’t know, but we’ve given ourselves a chance.
“Now we know what we have to do next week. We lose and we are down, the same as today. We will have the same attitude.
“Preston need a result for the play-offs and we need one as well – sets it up nicely.
“Hope Akpan was very good, an all-round midfield performance. He’s made a few goals in the last few weeks and now he’s got one.”
Angry Bolton fans tried to get to manager Phil Parkinson as Burton’s first-half goals crashed in. Most supporters were massed behind the goal where Akpan and Akins scored and chanted “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” as they booed their team off.
Wanderers fans in the main stand surged on to the walkway and were heading towards Parkinson until stewards blocked their way.
Some fans were standing within touching distance of fullback Andrew Taylor when he came to the touchline to take a throw. Extra stewards were brought in and police also helped calm things down as scuffles threatened to break out.
“I feel for our fans coming down in numbers, paying good money, because that performance wasn’t good enough,” said Parkinson. “The fans were angry and I can understand that.
“I can only say to the supporters I know they are hurting, but if only they knew how much it’s hurting me, to see us go down with a whimper.
“I’ve always defended the lads, but today there wasn’t enough out there.
“We’ve got one last bite of the cherry. Whatever happens next week I want to come off the pitch and hold my head up high as a manager, that we put in a performance that looks like a team fighting for its life.”
Tension was everywhere as Liam Boyce, back to goal, held the ball, laid it off, and Akpan put it in the top left corner.
Akins was very close to another goal a minute later, Bolton keeper Ben Alnwick having to touch his header away.
The next chance he got, Akins took it.
Alnwick needed to make saves from Boyce and Marvin Sordell in the second half and so it all goes to that Sunday shoot-out now with Burton at Preston and Bolton home to Nottingham Forest.