Burton Albion Football Club

Brewers winger Alex MacDonald is looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead for the final stretch of the season, starting with a trip to Bury on Saturday.

Burton’s cup interests for the season were ended with defeat at AFC Bournemouth in midweek, and MacDonald says that whilst it’s disappointing to be out of the cup, the league now has to take priority.

“We were pretty gutted to go out. There was a big carrot but we were undone by a good team. Deano (Lyness) had a great game and made some good saves.

“Bournemouth have gone through the leagues and they play a lot of football, passing from the back but we don’t think that’s the way to do well in this league. The manager has different ways of looking at it and going about our games. 

"They’ve gone up the divisions and with the way they’re standing their ground in the division and we can take aspects of that, which can only improve us,” said MacDonald.

Heading into the final months of the season with so much to play for, MacDonald knows that the team will have to continue to work hard if promotion is to be achieved.

“There’s going to be days where we need to scrap games out, and we’ve had a few of those where we’ve taken three points but been nowhere our best. 

"We said it this morning that there’s more to come from us in terms of how we play, and after last year with the success we had, if someone offered us our current position we’d snap their hand off. 

“We’re going about our business well, with competition for places all over the park. You’re always looking over your shoulder and you know that if you have an off game you know that someone’s going to be there, ready to take your shirt off you next week, which is good for the club and the players,” MacDonald said.

McDonald hopes to play a part in any success the Brewers achieve this season, and says the squad will be full of confidence when they take on Bury.

He added: “This season has been a bit frustrating for me personally. I’ve been in and out through injury and illness. This year hasn’t gone the way I’d hoped it to go, but for the team it’s one really well hopefully  can keep working hard and be part of that.

“The league is now our sole focus. Bury will be a tough task, they’ve come down in the last year with a decent squad. It’s a hard place to go to, but somewhere we go to full of confidence, because prior to Tuesday night we were unbeaten in 11 so we’re ready to work hard and get a result."