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...

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