NIGEL Clough says the Brewers needed the win against Colchester to put the promotion race back in his team's hands.
The Brewers boss said:Â It was six without a win before today. There were four draws in that and we deserved to win two or three of those. But it is still six games without a win so we needed the three points today."We reminded the players that this week and without being too nervous or panicky it was important we went out and did the professional job we did today."
Walsall's heavy defeat at Bradford was also a boost to the Brewers promotion hopes.
Clough said: "It's back in our hands now with two games to go and a swing in goal difference in our favour.
"Today, I thought we started very well against 11 men and after the sending off we dropped off a little bit and began to coast and started to assume we would win the game. Then Lucas pops up with a goal just before half-time. It was then important to get that second goal to kill any doubts.
"It's an important result but we are not there yet. Walsall have a big game on Tuesday and on Saturday we play Gillingham and want three points from that."