Brewers boss wants performance
Burton Albion manager Gary Rowett is expecting an entertaining game when the Brewers visit Northampton Town on Saturday.
Picking up points is the priority for both sides as they fight on different fronts this season, and whilst Rowett is surprised at Northampton’s league position, he believes that both sides will go out to attack.
“It should make for an entertaining game. Northampton wouldn’t complain about a draw but they need to win games to stay up at this stage of the season. They’re trying desperately to stay up and Chris Wilder has done a good job since going there. It’s going to be a difficult game but both teams have to go out and attack, which should hopefully make for an entertaining, fast paced game.
“I’m surprised at where they are as they have good players, and if we don’t respect that and you don’t play well then those players will come to the fore and hurt us as much as any other team in the division,” said Rowett.
With Northampton struggling following play-off final defeat last season, Rowett says the Brewers’ continued success is credit to his side.
“If you look at the two sides from last season’s play-offs who didn’t go up alongside us, both Northampton and Cheltenham have had indifferent seasons. In a way that’s testament to how we’ve seamlessly carried on as we’ve left off, which shows the character and solidity of the players.
“Games against Northampton will never be really open. They have a lot of physicality in the team and they are what they are. They’re going to fight and scrap and we have to make sure that we go there and match them. We need to match them in tempo, match them physically and we need to get on the ball and hurt them as we’ve hurt teams before this season.
“Our record away from home has been excellent, and we certainly have nothing to fear but we’re mindful that the crowd will be up for it, so we need to hit the ground running,” Rowett said.
With the Brewers only three points off third place, Rowett wants his team to go the extra mile and make a late surge into the top three – and is happy to be the underdog.
“I think the pressure is off us as we aren’t expected to catch anyone. It would be a bonus if we could keep going and put Chesterfield under pressure. Plymouth was a must win and every game is now a must win as we’re looking up rather than down.
“Whilst we’re in this position we’re going to try and win every game and match Chesterfield’s results over the next three games, and go into the Chesterfield game with it in our own hands.”