NIGEL Clough is expecting a close game against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s QPR as they visit the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow evening.
It will be the second time Hasselbaink has returned to the Pirelli since leaving last year, he recently visited in a pre-season friendly which ended in a 1-1 draw.QPR are without a win in their previous five whilst Burton Albion haven’t won in their last four.
Nigel Clough said: “I think it will be a close game, both teams are struggling to find a bit of form. It’ll probably be a tense game. With Jimmy coming back having played a huge part in our success in the last 18 months or so with all that added into the mix it should make it a good game. You want to win but you don’t want to lose when you are in a tough spell of form.”
The R’s went behind to Birmingham City on Saturday but Hasselbaink’s men clawed a goal back just before half time and the game eventually ended 1-1.
“They played well against Birmingham in the second half on Saturday, went 1-0 down at home which is always difficult and they bounced back then looked like the side who would go on to win the game,” said Clough.
There will be a return for more familiar faces than just Hasselbaink as David Oldfield, Gavin Ward, Jack Sharkey and Nasser El Khayati will all be making the return to Burton on Trent.
Nigel Clough said: “I get on really well with Jimmy, David, Jack and Gavin. Gavin and Jack obviously stayed on with us till the end of the season, all four of them played a very important role with the club. We look forward to seeing them and having a beer with them after the game.”
The Brewers will be without a game for a fortnight after they face Cardiff City with the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday so Nigel Clough is looking to pick up more points before the international break.
“We need to get some points on the board ahead of the international break, we knew this would be the toughest batch of fixtures, said Clough, “We need to go into the next break in good heart, we don’t want to lose three on the spin neither. With two home games, if we take four or six points we will be happy.”