Argyle warned of threat from in-form Burton
FORMER Plymouth Argyle defender Guy Branston has warned the Pilgrims that they will ‘have their hands full’ when they play Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s inform Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow.
Branston, who played for both clubs during his long and muchtravelled career as a defender and is now the loans manager at Leicester City, has seen Burton a number of times this season, not least because Leicester prospect Sam Hughes had a spell with the Brewers before suffering a torn cruciate knee ligament.
Burton seemed set for relegation at Christmas but the appointment of Hasselbaink, the former Leeds United and Chelsea striker, as their new boss on New Year’s Day has completely turned around their fortunes.
Hasselbaink, in his second spell in charge at the Pirelli Stadium, has led Burton away from the relegation zone and to probable safety in League One.
He brought in several new players during the January transfer window and Branston has been very impressed with his recruitment.
Under Hasselbaink, Burton have a record of 12 wins, two draws and five defeats.
They are currently on a run of three consecutive victories, which has included a 2-1 triumph at Portsmouth last Saturday before they went to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday and beat them 3-0.
Branston told the Plymouth Herald: “I have watched them a few times, and I have seen a mixture of different teams.
“He (Hasselbaink) has gone out and recruited in January and I think he has got really good tough competitors to try to get them out of the situation they were in.
“If I’m honest, he has cruised it. They have been better than I think what he initially thought.
“He has got some really talented players in the line-up. It’s not a weak side.
“Kane Hemmings has got goals in him all the time. Jonny Smith (on loan) from Bristol City is a talented wide player.
“Sean Clare was a kid from the Nike Academy who went to Sheffield Wednesday and then up to Hearts.
“He’s a really talented midfielder, and they have also got the former Chelsea lad, Michael Mancienne.
“He had worked with Hasselbaink there. He has had a really good career behind him.
“(Thomas) Hamer was at Oldham with Dino (Maamria, now the assistant manager to Hasselbaink) and he was a sought after full-back with a long throw. He’s a big powerful kid. He looks like a centre-half playing full-back but really talented.
“He had a very bad injury but he’s just getting back to it now and he has been really good for them.
“(Hayden) Carter is a fantastic centre-half on loan from Blackburn who I had seen no end watching our 23s against their 23s.
“He’s very good on the ball, off the ball. He’s a big tall boy and can score from a set piece, so Plymouth have got their hands full.”
Branston will be part of the Argyle i-Follow commentary team for the game, alongside Rob McNichol.
He continued: “I know the club really well. It’s on my doorstep. I used to play there.
“It’s a really good football club, it’s run really well. I even forgot to mention one of my favourite players, which is (Ryan) Edwards.
“He’s a quality player. He’s a really busy midfielder, an Australian guy.
“So if Plymouth aren’t on it on Saturday they are going to get overrun.
“They (Burton) will try and pass it, but they will turn it over as well at a good pace and they are physically very good.
“They are physically fit, will run around, will always work hard so it’s going to be a tough game. It’s going to be interesting to watch.”