Burton Preview
Posted by sgmboro on 04/09/2008
Graham Westley needs points and quickly after the mid-week defeat to Kettering left Boro hovering over the relegation zone with just 5 points from their opening 7 games. Boro were in a confident mood going into the game at Rockingham Road after an impressive 3-1 victory at Barrow, but that will feel like a long time ago now after Tuesday’s defeat. Boro didn’t play badly, but weren’t great either. Although again they didn’t look ruthless enough going forward and always vulnerable to conceding a goal at the back. Things don’t any easier for Boro either with 2nd placed Burton Albion the next visitors to Broadhall Way.
Our record against Burton last season was poor. We drew the home game 3-3, but really should of won the game as we were the better of the two teams. Poor defending, again, allowed Shaun Harrad to give the Brewers a point. This was the first game after Mark Stimson walked out of the club back in October. When Boro travelled to Staffordshire in April, the hopes of reaching the play-offs were fading. Peter Taylor’s side were beat 3-0 although the performance of the team deserved more. A mistake by loanee goalkeeper Clark Masters gifted Burton the initiative and they went on to record a comfortable win and reach the play-offs themselves.
Burton have always been difficult to beat, but in recent years Nigel Clough’s side have been very consistent and found themselves challenging for promotion from the Blue Square Premier. Boro’s record at Burton’s Pirelli Stadium is terrible. They have never gained a point since it was built in 2005 (3-1, 2-1, 3-0). The home record is not that much better. Since they were promoted in 2002, Boro have won 2, drew 1 and lost 3 of the 6 visits made by the Brewers.
Graham Westley has been talking about playing at home.
“It’s a great opportunity to enjoy yourself playing in front of a crowd like that. If I was a player at this football club right now, I would be relishing the opportunity of playing at home. We have a lot to offer. We are evolving as a side, and I think it is only a matter of time before we get into consistent winning ways.”
Boro haven’t won at home since they beat York at the beginning of April. The last 3 home games of the 2007/2008 season ended in defeat. Boro have then lost 1 and drawn 2 of the 3 games played at Broadhall Way this season. They couldn’t even win at home in pre-season. Beating Burton on Saturday is a big ask. They’re a good, organised side who know their way round the Blue Square Premier. The 1-0 win at Wrexham on Tuesday proves that and they will be confident of beating an under-performing Stevenage side at the weekend. We will have to be better defensively and take our chances when they occur if we are to get back to winning ways.
Prediction: Boro 2-2 Burton
