NIGEL Clough says that Burton Albion’s survival in the Championship has been no fluke but instead is well earned.
He said: “It’s not been a fluke to get to 52 points. We have not scraped it with 44 points. I think around 45 points has been enough five out of the last six seasons. Getting to 52 points with a game to go, we now want to get to 55.”
Clough is delighted that he and the squad can relax for the final day of the season when the Brewers take on Reading on Sunday (noon kick off). It’s a contrast from last year when Albion travelled to Doncaster needing a point for promotion.
He said: “Having had the torture of the last day of last season it was important to get the job done so that we could all just enjoy it on Sunday.
“It’s a worrying stressful time when you know that ten months’ work is on one game. It’s not a nice situation and not good for supporters as well.
“One of three teams will go out of the Championship this weekend and that will be a massive blow for them.
“There is a fear of relegation and you desperately don’t want it to happen and this is as close as we have come this season since starting management. Derby the first year was touch and go but this was the closest. But now we can relax on Sunday and look forward to next season.”