Burton Albion Football Club

Mousinho feels scoreline was harsh

Burton Albion’s John Mousinho feels the scoreline didn’t reflect Albion’s efforts as they went down 5-0 at League One side Barnsley.

The Brewers’ FA Cup involvement for the season was ended in the first round as a Sam Winnall hat-trick and goals from Conor Hourihane and Devante Cole saw off a spirited Burton.

Burton had chances before Winnall broke the deadlock in the 40^th minute, and Mousinho, continuing in his player-coach role alongside Mike Whitlow, feels the game could have gone differently had one of those chances gone in.

“It was a tough afternoon. People who weren't here will probably see the scoreline and think we got a battering, but in the first half we good account of ourselves. After about half an hour we had two really good chances and we had Barnsley penned in. Unfortunately they got the first goal and it changed the game.

“Once they got the first, the second soon followed and we had to change our shape in the second half to chase the game, which unfortunately cost us,” said Mousinho.

The game was a tightly-fought contest in the first half, but Winnall’s quickfire brace before the interval gave the Tykes a crucial advantage that they took advantage of after the break.

“The plan that Mike Whitlow had set out for the lads was working. We struggled early on and they had a lot of possession without threatening too much.

“Once we settled into the game and passed it we came into it much better. Their keeper has had to make two great saves from Robbie a weir and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

“A goal was always going to change the game and credit to Barnsley because they're a good side. I don't think anyone should be too disheartened but that's the level we want to be at,” he said.

Although disappointed by the result, Mousinho says both he and the rest of the players have been shown what they need if they're to make the step up to League One next season.

“They have some good players and some lads that were in the Championship last season to get promoted from League One. All the boys can look at today’s game and see the standard we need to be at if we have any ambition to be in League One.

“We were in the game for 35-40 minutes and the goals we gave away at the end of the first half have changed things,” Mousinho added.

The midfielder also praised the work ethic of the players during the contest, and believes their willingness to get back into the game after half-time was ultimately their undoing.

“Nobody can question their work rate, especially when the tempo was high in the first half. We got in and stopped them playing, and the crowd got a bit frustrated that they couldn't find a way through us and implement their game plan.

“That's testament to the lads and the way they went about their work. We can't question the lads’ effort, and that sounds crazy at 5-0 but we had to chase the game in the second half.”