An extraordinary 10 days, from despair to euphoria

What an extraordinary 10 days in the history of Burton Albion.

From the pits of despair at Vale Park to the unbridled euphoria when Matt Paterson’s goal went in to beat Plymouth Argyle in the 94^th minute… with the small matter of a vital victory over Wycombe Wanderers thrown in.

And yet we still have more of this to come and we may yet experience either or both of the above emotions again.

I’m not the first to say that, whatever happens, this has been a wonderful season for the bookies’ favourites for relegation and for the manager who, apparently, quite a lot of people did not want to see in charge at the start of the campaign.

I actually don’t think too many people would have taken that view if they had had the chance to spend a few minutes talking to Gary Rowett about his plans and his approach. He is a persuasive talker but, better than that, he has, so far, been able to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

I think there were a couple of good examples on Saturday of the team spirit Gary has instilled. I say he has instilled it – it comes from the players themselves, who plainly get on with each other, but that’s because they’re the sort of characters Gary and Kevin Summerfield have sought out.

On Saturday morning, Matt Paterson Tweeted how much he was looking forward to another big game – and yet, at that point, he would have known he was not in the starting line-up, despite having done plenty to suggest he should be.

He wasn’t to know then that he would be knocking in a 94^th-minute winner to prompt an eruption of noise at the Pirelli. If he’d dreamed that finish he would perhaps have woken up, pinched himself and said “don’t be daft.”

But it happened and it’s great for Matt. I’ve been speaking to his dad, Bill, recently, and he assures me how much Matt is loving his time at Burton. I think most of us would agree that we hope he’s still with the club next season.

The second example of team spirit was to see the two “main men” who have been dropped, Stuart Tomlinson and Zander Diamond, joining in so fully with the celebrations.

Tomlinson, ever the extrovert, hoisted his replacement, Dean Lyness, in the air at the final whistle and it was hugs all round from Diamond.

That is just what you want to see. Hold tight to your hat and your seat. The next fortnight could be more extraordinary still....

* One of John Potts's splendid pictures of the celebrations after Matt Paterson's goal on Saturday.

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A WORD for the Plymouth Argyle supporters. They may not, quite, have been the largest in number at the Pirelli this season and, yes, their coaches were provided free, but I’d contend they were the best away support here this season.

They kept up a constant, good-natured noise and there were no idiots letting off flares or starting fights.

Argyle are a genuinely big club, therefore they don’t appear to feel the need to boast about what a big club they are, like the fans of wannabe big clubs like Northampton Town and Port Vale.

I had a quick word with Les, the landlord in my after-match local, the Derby Inn, which was heaving with Plymouth fans for a while after the game. For him, it was certainly a case of “can we play you every week.” Plenty of trade and not a whiff of trouble. I do hope Plymouth stay up. Their team looked too good not to on Saturday but one of the biggest concerns they now have for their last two games is that Jason Banton, who has plainly grown up a lot since his very brief loan at Burton two years ago, has been recalled by his parent club Crystal Palace.

That seems very harsh, especially if Banton now finds he doesn’t actually get a game at Palace before the end of the season. 

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A QUICK word too about opposition managers. The list is lengthening of those who cannot bring themselves to admit that they might just have been beaten by Burton Albion because Burton Albion are actually a half-decent side. Graham Alexander at Fleetwood and Mark Yates at Cheltenham are notable recent additions to the list after their teams were thoroughly well beaten by the Brewers.
Add Plymouth Argyle's John Sheridan to the list this week. Plymouth battled hard and had a good spell for 15 minutes or so in the second half but for Sheridan to suggest they "might have been the better side" is delusional. I seem to recall him being equally graceless when he was at Chesterfield and the Brewers won there.
Gareth Ainsworth, the veteran player-manager of Wycombe Wanderers, does not belong on that list. His was an honest assessment of Wycombe's defeat at the Pirelli and he was generous in his praise, not least his praise for Jacques Maghoma, as clear a man of the match on Tuesday as you could wish to see.
I would not be at all surprised to see Ainsworth get Wycombe heading back towards the top of the division again next season. 

Too much happening for the football to be perfect...

Sorry to disappoint those who want to see perfection from League Two players on a football pitch, but the remainder of Burton Albion’s season is unlikely to throw up a series of classics.

There are just too many factors coming into play to make flowing football likely.

First and foremost is the pressure for the teams both at the top and the bottom. Take into account those still harbouring play-off hopes and those still needing a few points to be absolutely sure of staying up and, actually, three-quarters of the division still have something to play for.

The players involved in these games are human beings, not machines. Ever been under pressure at work? Or in an exam? Or in your social life? You don’t necessarily perform exactly as you’d prefer to all of the time in those situations.

Secondly, just as it becomes even more important to deliver your best, you find yourself playing on pitches that are beginning to suffer from the rigours of a long season, as the Pirelli Stadium pitch clearly was on Saturday. Usually, in April, that is accompanied by them drying out and becoming stupidly bouncy. This time, they are sticky and muddy.

I have a bit of a theory (unproven of course) that some people who criticise players a lot are the computer game generation, whose players perform as expected on perfect pitches every time they turn out.

Computer game players don’t encounter conditions like those at Accrington on Monday, with a heavily-sanded pitch and a ferocious wind blowing straight down the ground.

“A lottery,” was Gary Rowett’s immediate observation and he was right.

Take all of these factors into account and the nature of the game was predictable. Nervy, safety first, tempers fraying at times, little quality on the ball.

It wasn’t short of drama though, as the two sides slugged it out, each taking the lead, each working so hard – ultimately, each fully deserving to take something from the game.

Of course, if you’re a Burton player or fan, it was incredibly frustrating not to take all three points once they had got within a minute of doing so and it was especially hard on Stuart Tomlinson.

Just before he spilled Lee Molyneux’s shot to allow James Beattie to knock in Accy’s equaliser, he had made a brilliant save to touch a better shot from Molyneux on to the bar and over. The highs and lows can follow each other very quickly in football.

The point (or lack of three) at Accy has decided nothing: it certainly does not signal the end of Burton’s chances of automatic promotion, as some have been quick to suggest. Actually, a defeat at Port Vale wouldn’t do that either.

All of those strange, largely uncontrollable factors will still ensure more twists. We have three of the last four games at home. It’s too close to call.

It’s been noted – rightly so, I guess – that the local papers have barely mentioned that Jacques Maghoma (pictured) got listed in the League Two team of the season, voted sixth-best by the managers in the division.

Sorry about that. As far as I’m aware, he’s not, as yet, received any trophy for it, unlike with the Player of the Month award.

The problem for us on the local papers was that there was an awful lot of other news around on the day and only so much space. The Brewers signed two players, Lee Fowler and Dominic Knowles, and sent a third, Cleveland Taylor out on loan. Plus, there was a game against Chesterfield to preview.

Getting that nomination was more good news for Jacques towards the culmination of what has been the season of his career so far.

He had few chances to shine in the battle at Accrington but his two free kicks were marvellous. He lined up the first from what seems a ridiculous 45 yards but with a gale at his back, it was probably more like a 30-yarder. It was so close to being right, dipping late and just over the bar with the keeper nowhere near it.

In the second half, Jacques scored with one from 30 yards with the wind against him, again with a late dip to take it under the bar, the keeper again grasping at thin air. I’m off to seek out the video footage...

* Burton Albion news can be found under "Sport - Burton Albion" at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk
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