Manager happy with unbeaten stretch
Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett was taking the positives from Saturday’s draw away at Bury – especially extending the side’s unbeaten league run.
Saturday’s stalemate at the JD Stadium made it ten games unbeaten for Rowett’s side, a run which stretches back to November.
“To go ten games unbeaten in the league is a great run for us, and we haven’t had too many runs like that since being in the league.
“I’m pleased with it and the fact we haven’t lost today like we might have done in previous seasons is a big positive,” Rowett told Brewers Player.
Reflecting on Saturday’s draw, Rowett believes the opposition didn’t create a lot, although his defence still needed to be well organised to keep another clean sheet.
“I don’t think they worked Dean enough. They got into some good positions and once or twice we struggled to stop that.
“Ordinarily, we’d get up and press teams but in this case I felt we just needed to drop off and conserve our energy a bit more.
“We looked fairly solid, but we haven’t created enough or worked the keeper enough in the attacking third,” Rowett explained.
Zeli Ismail made his first start for the club since joining on loan, and Rowett says he’ll improve as games go by.
“You know that the 30 minutes he showed against Cheltenham was going to be very hard to replicate over ninety, which is obviously what people think will happen.
“In the first half he looked bright, got into some excellent positions and put a couple of great balls in, and we have to capitalise on that.
“Maybe his lack of match fitness showed slightly in the second half and the fact we didn’t have as much of the ball to get to him.
“He’ll get better and stronger and he’ll be a real asset for us.”