Left back reflects on goalscoring return to the team
Damien McCrory marked his return to the side after injury with his first goal for over a year at Torquay United on Tuesday evening. His only previous Burton goal was against Dagenham & Redbridge, his former club and there was a certain irony that his second goal in Albion colours came against the Gulls, considering the fact that McCrory started his career at United's fierce rivals Plymouth Argyle, a point not lost on the reliable left sided defender."It is always nice as an ex-Plymouth lad to come down here and get a goal but for me I was just pleased to back out on the pitch having missed the last game and it's slightly disappointing that we could not get the three points." McCrory said with mixed feelings.
"I thought we started off ok and obviously we took the lead but we let them back into it really with what was a very soft goal to concede. I think it's a different game if we go in one nil up at half time. I actually thought we were better in the second half. We are creating chances but at the moment they don't seem to be going in for us which is a little bit worrying but at the end of the day we aren't losing games but it's a game that, certainly on paper, we should be getting three points from." he sent on.
The likeable Irishman was deployed as a wingback against Torquay as manager Gary Rowett tinkered with the team's formation and McCrory felt that it certainly helped him to grab his goal on 33 minutes, surging into the box to latch onto a loose ball and fire home from just inside the box.
"I was playing a more advanced role for this game which gave me more chances to get into the box and fortunately I struck it well. I do like to get forward and it's not a role that's totally new to me. When I started my career I actually began on the left wing and then got shoved back to left back so it was nice to get forward a lot more tonight."
"We have had the clearer chances tonight and we have defended really well on the whole to restrict them to relatively few chances. The pitch wasn't that great. You were never sure whether the ball was actually going to bounce or not. It was just one of those things that makes the game that bit harder."
Given that Torquay had lost their three previous games it was a good chance for Albion to capitalise on a side hovering around the relegation places and there was a feeling that it was a case of dropped points rather than a point gained on their travels.
"I think we will probably see it as two points dropped really despite not losing the game" explained Damien, "Over the last four games or so we have dropped a few points with drawn games but we really need to dig in right now and I am hoping that sooner or later the chances are going to start flying in and we can get back to winning games two, three or four, like we were doing last season. The boys are still confident that we can do it, we just need the breaks and for the chances to go in for us."
There is no better place for Albion to try to get back to winning ways than at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday when Accrington Stanley come town. Stanley have been in a good run of form but still find themselves only one place above the drop zone and McCrory is looking for Albion to come out of the blocks quickly and try to stamp their authority on the game.
"We have picked up a point tonight and now we have to kick on for Saturday. We need three points from our home games now. There are thirteen games left in the season and we just have to keep going. Saturday is a must win game for us now. We need to take the game to them and start well hopefully getting an early goal and try to kill off the game early on."
"At the moment we seem to be playing in spells during a game but not for a whole ninety minutes and that is what we need to improve. It is only a matter of time for us. The strikers have got plenty of goals in them it just hasnt really happened as yet for them."
And the full back thinks once the goals come then it could signal the start of a good run of scoring form for the team, hopefully starting this weekend.
"I think if we can have a game where we can score a few goals it will open the floodgates for us. It is more than likely going to be a home game and hopefully we can do it on Saturday to give the strikers the confidence they need."