Burton Albion Post Match Thoughts

[gm_gm]

I’m at Cambridge next week and meeting quite a few people, if you want to argue about masks come and say hello

[Brin]

I’m at Cambridge next week and meeting quite a few people, if you want to argue about masks come and say hello

I'm there too pal. Not interested in arguing about masks but would buy you a drink and would like to say hello. A name to a face so to speak.

[Brin]

That classic cliche'....a game of two halves.

First half - A changed side and for several reasons saw us set off well and, we should have been well clear before half time. Freddie took his first goal well and looked more like his best today. Misses by Smudge and Freddie made the game more awkward but, thankfully it didn't turn out that way in the end.

Sadlier played well and clearly enjoyed the link up with Rathbone, who looks to be up to his 90mph terrier self. Sadlier does what Chio doesn't, he can cross a ball with precision and speed. If only we could clone both their attributes, we'd have a worldie in our team.

The back line was immense and irrespective of what gru thinks, Icky plays far better with Wood at the side of him. Their clearance headers, one off the line, were reassuring and it pleased the crowd.

Against the run of play they scored a very good goal that was both well run down and scored. Credit to Hemmings, a proper strikers goal.

Second half - Sorry but we were all over the place. Wiles was injured and should have been replaced at half time but being the young professional he is showing to be, he soldiered on. He reminds me of a young James Milner, have I said that recently?
We got ragged in midfield and for once it's a dig at Warne, for not bringing on Lindsay earlier than he did.

We required fresh wing play and bringing Chio on at 73 minutes was another gaff today. The third goal, thankfully, was a chance to take off the pressure Burton were definitely bringing to us. Well done Dan from such a very very very close position. It took calm and nerves to slide it to where he did.

Another win from an average performance so the question has to be asked, when do we take it up another gear, and against who, to wrap up a game early on, and remove the pressure like we saw in the second half this afternoon? Does that sound boastful? I don't think it does. We have a great bench like we've not had in many a year.

Here's hoping they all stay injury free and we carry on at the top into the New Year. UTM!


NB. Forgot to add, excellent second goal from Freddie. Is he after that Alan shearer shirt?

[DerekProsser(East Anglia)]

Very tough game, we knew it would be and one of those where I felt it wouldn't have taken a lot for the momentum to have gone entirely the other way.

That being said, the lads dug in and earned a priceless three points to keep this run going. I said in another thread that Burton feel a bit of a bogey team, so nice that we came out of it with a win.

I don't think they dominated the entire second half. We started off well obviously with the second goal and had another couple of good chances. But then we made some mistakes that allowed them in and they gained confidence and built on it. The more they pushed the more ragged we became and I'd say they controlled 30 mins of the 45. They certainly looked much more dangerous once Jebbison came on. But we hung on, the blood pressure went through the roof but this is familiar territory for us Millers!

Great to see Freddy on the scoresheet, Rathbone was immense and Woody marked his 200th game with a few important pieces of play. Felt a bit for Smith today, he reminded me a bit of Richie Barker back in the day, with lots of effort and determination but somehow looked awkward in front of goal and couldn't get anything from the fair few chances he had. Maybe he's trying too hard? Maybe his confidence has taken a knock?

A very good afternoon of football and lots of credit to our fans, singing all the way through it was great to hear. More of this definitely!

[MagyarMiller]

I agree Smithy looked a bit jaded on his striker duties, but I thought he won quite a lot of ball in midfield/defence which helped others.
Thsts what I love about this team.
They seem to be a TEAM.
Same goes for Freddie too.

Best group for a long time.
Ps I'm a Warney Boy.

[philthefluter]

That classic cliche'....a game of two halves.

First half - A changed side and for several reasons saw us set off well and, we should have been well clear before half time. Freddie took his first goal well and looked more like his best today. Misses by Smudge and Freddie made the game more awkward but, thankfully it didn't turn out that way in the end.

Sadlier played well and clearly enjoyed the link up with Rathbone, who looks to be up to his 90mph terrier self. Sadlier does what Chio doesn't, he can cross a ball with precision and speed. If only we could clone both their attributes, we'd have a worldie in our team.

The back line was immense and irrespective of what gru thinks, Icky plays far better with Wood at the side of him. Their clearance headers, one off the line, were reassuring and it pleased the crowd.

Against the run of play they scored a very good goal that was both well run down and scored. Credit to Hemmings, a proper strikers goal.


Second half - Sorry but we were all over the place. Wiles was injured and should have been replaced at half time but being the young professional he is showing to be, he soldiered on. He reminds me of a young James Milner, have I said that recently?
We got ragged in midfield and for once it's a dig at Warne, for not bringing on Lindsay earlier than he did.

We required fresh wing play and bringing Chio on at 73 minutes was another gaff today. The third goal, thankfully, was a chance to take off the pressure Burton were definitely bringing to us. Well done Dan from such a very very very close position. It took calm and nerves to slide it to where he did.

Another win from an average performance so the question has to be asked, when do we take it up another gear, and against who, to wrap up a game early on, and remove the pressure like we saw in the second half this afternoon? Does that sound boastful? I don't think it does. We have a great bench like we've not had in many a year.

Here's hoping they all stay injury free and we carry on at the top into the New Year. UTM!


NB. Forgot to add, excellent second goal from Freddie. Is he after that Alan shearer shirt?

It`s certainly a good feeling winning when not playing your best.
Warney when interviewed about Dan`s goal said that they don`t cover close in free kicks in training.
I wondered about that, because we put players on their goal line to make it harder to get the ball in the net??

[Brin]

It`s certainly a good feeling winning when not playing your best.
Warney when interviewed about Dan`s goal said that they don`t cover close in free kicks in training.
I wondered about that, because we put players on their goal line to make it harder to get the ball in the net??

Phil, Big question, why don't we ever leave a man on the halfway line dragging two of theirs back lessening more of them in attack? This seems to have drifted out of the modern game.

[MillersTime]

Phil, Big question, why don't we ever leave a man on the halfway line dragging two of theirs back lessening more of them in attack? This seems to have drifted out of the modern game.

I always wonder this too, just invites more pressure and an Ogbene say (when he plays), ain't going to do bugger all when defending a corner.

[MillersTime]

20 unbeaten, incredible achievement.

Out of the current top 8 sides only Plymouth have lost a single game (4 actually) in their last 5. The other 7 are unbeaten in their last 5 each, minimum. Great level of consistency by all, frustrating not to be pulling away too much but imagine how infuriating it would be to be chasing and seemingly never closing the gap. Be even worse. Keep on going lads, great stuff.

Agree about Smudge, play natural, don't look too hard for chances to score.

[gm_gm]

I'm there too pal. Not interested in arguing about masks but would buy you a drink and would like to say hello. A name to a face so to speak.

Was a joke Brin....I’d buy you a pint anyway fella you know that