|
<< main >> |
| Will Buckley in The Observer, Sunday 31st October 1999 |
| 'Burton suits Clough' |
| Burton Albion
0 Rochdale 0 Nil-nil was a fair result. Not the most inspiring of opening sentences but there is no escaping it. Not that this was a bad game, far from it. The Burton Albion (aka 'The Brewers') game plan was to consolidate at the beginning, contain their higher-ranked opponents Rochdale and then try to sneak a result later on. |
| Two
out of three ain't bad and although they'll be disappointed not to have acheived
all three, it is a credit to the Doc Martens League side that they are still
in the competition along with their Third Division opponents. Many years ago Nigel Clough used to go and watch the teams managed by his father Brian. |
|
| Yesterday the
circle was completed with Brian coming to watch the side who Nigel plays
for and manages. It was very much a family affair with Brian, his other son,
his daughters-in-law and his Grandchildren all lunching together before the
game. The family even sponsored the match. Nigel is happy that Dad is a season ticket holder. "It's wonderful to have him around We'll have a chat about the game but he won't say "I'll tell you this" and "I'll tell you that". It's good for him. There's not 20,000 and no-one bothers him now he's been a few times." He certainly looked in pretty good health yesterday. As the Cloughs were lunching, the final twelve stand tickets were sold over an hour-and-a-half before kick-off. Meanwhile the PA announcer informed the fans that the Havant & Waterlooville game would be put back to 5.30 so everyone could enjoy the England v Scotland game in the Havant & Waterlooville social club. Rochdale's fans arrived shortly thereafter. "Tell you what, this is a bloody nice ground, nice little pitch," said one. "Three Snickers?" asked his mate. The game started as it was to continue - cagily. Burton's intentions were made clear by Clough's decision to play deep, settling himself in front of the back four. He tried to control proceedings, and in large part he succeeded. In front of him on the right was little Pat Lyons; in front on the left the wonderfully named Darren Stride, who is Burton born and bred and has played more than 450 games for the club. In front of Clough were target-man Anton Thomas, big and blundering, the gangling David Holmes and the somehwhat flash Dale Anderson. Behind Clough were the Albion player of last season Mark Blount and Michael Forsyth who has played for Derby. These two centre-backs were magnificently solid throughout. The policy of containment worked so effectively for the first 15 minutes that Grandad Brian could indulge in a gurgling contest with Nigel's 18-month old son sitting four seats along. While he was gurning, Anderson broke through on the left a la Ginola but perhaps thinking he was David took the ball too far. Thomas, meanwhile, was already huffing and puffing and running out of breath. The wind began to get up. One miscued goal-kick from Nick 'Nick-Nick' Goodwin in the Albion goal landed after much time in the air only five yards outside his area. Little happened for the rest of the half aside from a couple of precision passes from Clough. He is a wonderful player but needs to be surrounded by equally talented team-mates. The second-half was dominated by the weather. The wind had strengthened so much that a punt from Goodwin had Edwards in the Rochdale goal scurrying back to defend his line. The wind was behind Albion but it didn't suit them. Instead of playing passing football, they lumped it forward.
Then along with
the wind came the rain. It was blustery, slippery error weather and it got
worse. The rain started to sheet down. Big Thomas found himself on the right,
drew his right leg back ever so slowly in preperation for a shot and was
tackled before he could make contact with ball. |
| top | |
| MediaWatch | << main >> |
