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.