KEEPER Jon McLaughlin says a tight defensive performance enabled Burton Albion to again get the better of Southend United.
After pulling off a fine save that helped Albion keep a clean sheet and secure another three points, the Brewers No 1 said: “Games against Southend are always very tight affairs. Phil Brown sets their team up very well.
“They have a good physical presence throughout the team and they use it effectively. They play a little bit of football but when needs be will go direct and play off balls in our area.
“It was a cagey affair and that can create a little bit of anxiety but we knew if we kept it tight at the back, didn’t give anything away, we might get a scrappy goal to win it.
“They make it difficult to impress your game on them which means that at times you have to be a bit more direct than you might like, more resourceful with the way you play. We did that well and the boys worked incredibly hard as they always do.
“We have honest players in this team who will work and work and work and that’s what we did again.
“If we can’t do it the pretty way, we will do it the ugly way and if that keeps the wins and the points coming then fantastic.
“When it’s tight like that and you have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and give nothing away to a good team and you come away with the win, that’s really satisfying.”