Defender happy with goal but more pleased with the result
Phil Edwards has developed something of a knack of scoring important goals for the Brewers since joining at the start of last season and his 62nd minute winner against Bury at the Pirelli Stadium earned another three points from one of Albion's promotion rivals. Edwards also scored the first goal of the Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink era to set Albion on the way to victory against Wycombe back in November and followed that up with the only goal of the game against Luton Town six days later. It remains to be seen just how important this latest goal may prove to be but three points against the Shakers, the first time Albion have ever beaten the side from Greater Manchester, puts Albion in a healthy second place in the Sky Bet League 2 table, level on points with new leaders Shrewsbury Town.Whilst pleased with his goal, Edwards paid tribute to the work done by strikers Jacob Blyth and Stuart Beavon who whilst not getting a goal for their efforts battled well against a robust Bury defence although Beavon had a hand in Edwards' goal with a deft flick from Adam McGurk's free kick to create the goal.
"Obviously it's nice to score a goal but the front two today worked their socks off." acknowledged Edwards, "They have done their part as well and it was obviously Beav's little flick through to me that I was able to get on the end of and put into the net."
As well as his three goals this campaign helping Albion to nine points Edwards can also point to two goals last season (away at Exeter and Hartlepool) that yielded four points from six so he is rapidly becoming something of a good luck charm when he finds the net.
With Albion having drawn their last two games, also away from home, it meant that it was important to secure a sixth straight home win, something which puts those away draws at Portsmouth and York in a much better light.
"Every time I've scored we haven't been beaten so long may that continue," Phil continued, "but obviously it was all about getting the three points especially after the last couple of draws away from home but they look like good points now after getting a victory here."
"Picking up points away from home are good points anywhere but you have to back it up with your home form and we have done that in recent weeks."
The Shakers were one of the favourites for promotion before a ball had been kicked and after a solid start they looked to be reaffirming their promotion credentials but a sticky patch of form in November left them playing catch up but having put that behind them David Flitcroft's men are back chasing hard for a promotion place, according to Edwards.
"Bury are a good side. They will be in the play-offs I think. It was vital for us to get the win today to stop them catching us because they have been on a bit of a run. It knocks them back a bit from us but we have just got to keep looking after ourselves and hopefully we can be where we want to be at the end of the season."
"They are a good passing side and they have got one of the highest scoring records in the league so to keep a clean sheet, that is our first aim and anything else we can do is a bonus."
In Danny Mayor, the Shakers possess one of the top players in Sky Bet League 2 and playing on the left wing for Bury he was in direct opposition to Edwards during the game but it was the Albion man who came out on top on this occasions.
"He is a very good player to be fair," said Edwards, "He skinned me once or twice in the first half but second half I nullified him a bit better. He is a decent player but I think today I got the better of him in the end."
The adage goes that win your home games and draw your away games and you wont be far away from success at the end of the season seems to be applying to Albion's results in recent weeks although Phil would like to see a few more three point hauls on the road to boost their chances even further, while maintaining their currently formidable form at the Pirelli.
"If we can get three points away from home then that is even better but we have got to win our home games to give us a platform to build from and if we can then keep picking up points here and there on the road that is good."
"It is better for us to have teams fear us when they come here and it puts them on the back foot a bit more and obviously we can go and attack them and get the goals to win the games."
Can we expect to see more goals from the Brewers full back? Maybe but for the popular Liverpudlian clean sheets remain a priority but a combination of the two could have great results for Albion in the coming weeks and months.
"I am getting in the box a bit more and having a few shots. If I can add a few more to my tally then thats a bonus but my main aim is keeping clean sheets to help us win games and points."