A stunning second half performance in the face of being down to ten men enabled Burton Albion to overcome promotion rivals Southend United 2-1 on a thrilling night at the Pirelli Stadium.
Jon McLaughlin had also saved a penalty from Corr during an intriguing first forty five minutes but the second half was a stirring performance from the Brewers who showed great steel and determination to turn the game on its head through Matty Palmer's second in as many games and a stunning late finish from Nasser El Khayati silencing the visitors and sending Albion five points clear at the top of Sky Bet League 2 going into the last nine games of the season.“I am immensely proud.” Hasselbaink told burtonalbionfc.co.uk
“I love these boys.
“They are incredible.
“They have got a never die attitude.”
There were baffled looks all round on 22 minutes as referee James Linington suddenly produced a yellow card for skipper John Mousinho and awarded the Shrimpers a penalty.
It appeared that Mousinho had been penalised for dragging Pigott down at a corner but the usually reliable Corr was denied from the spot as McLaughlin got down well and superbly pushed the ball onto the post before the ball bounced across the face of goal and wide of the opposite upright to the delight of the Burton fans behind the goal.
Hasselbaink couldn’t believe the eventful first half.
“After the set-backs in the first half, then the goalkeeper saves a penalty, we missed a really good chance from Phil, a sending off, then we had ten men, all just before half time."
A much better second half performance, and a second half turn-around as you can call it, left Brewers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink delighted with his team as he told us he team looked like 100 men on the pitch.
“I must say second half we came out and we looked like 100 men on that pitch.
“Everybody was counting as ten.
“We did what we needed to do.
“We were organised, we were hard to beat, we were tackling but when we had the ball we passed it.
“We passed it in a way where they couldn’t get it, even with ten men.”