Albion boss wants side to kick-on
Taking the next step is the aim for Burton Albion boss Gary Rowett as his side travel south to face fellow Sky Bet League 2 promotion hopefuls Oxford United on Saturday, (3pm).
With Albion and Oxford sitting in fourth and fifth respectively there is a chance for Rowett’s side to steal a march on their rivals as the season closes in.
“Ourselves and Oxford have been in a very similar position for the majority of the season, being in and around the play-offs and in and around the top three.
“I suppose both of us are looking to see if we can make that next step into the top three.
“We have to be happy really, we’ve had 18 months of success and if you look at that success it’s relative,” he told Brewers Player.
Albion’s consistency has been present for the past 18 months says Rowett and he now wants to take that to another level by finishing the 2013/14 season as strongly as possible.
“To say that we’ve been up in the top seven for the majority of the season, probably 90 per cent has to be classed as success.
“Now whether we can take that success to another level and push into the top three, who knows, whether we stay in the play-offs, who knows,” he explained.
Like Albion, Oxford remain in contention for promotion but without a win in three games they will be eager to get their form back on track this Saturday.
Throughout Sky Bet League 2 teams are fighting for position at either end of the table, as Rowett explains.
“It is going to be like all of our recent games. it’ll be a very difficult game.
“We’re in a position at the moment where every game is vital for most teams in the division.
“There are not many teams that that haven’t still got something to play for, whether that is getting into the play-offs, trying to stay in or get into the top three or whether that is trying to stay out the bottom two.”
He added: “We’ve seen it recently where lots of the lower teams are picking up points against any of the teams in the division because they’re desperate.”