LUCAS Akins says that Burton Albion will be hungry to beat Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, despite the Royals’ formidable home record.
Reading have lost just once at home this season, while the Brewers are yet to win away from the Pirelli Stadium yet this campaign. Jaap Stam’s men are also in the midst of a three-game winning streak, but Akins says that it will not affect the Burton squad’s mindset going into the game.
“Perhaps in the past (it has affected us), but this is all new to us in terms of facing this opposition every week,” Akins said. “We haven’t really got a history of playing a few of these teams so - I’ve said it in the past - records are made to be broken and that will be no different going to Reading.
“We respect the fact that they have got good players, and their record speaks for itself, but it just makes us more hungry to go and beat them on their own patch. But we want to give a good account of ourselves and if we keep getting the performances right then I am sure we will be okay.”
Reading have been renowned for their possession-based football this season. Akins says the Brewers will be patient on Saturday, but will have to remain alert if they are to get a positive result.
“I have seen Reading earlier in the season and we looked at them again prior to the international break, and this week what their strengths are and they are fantastic at keeping the ball.
“Last year we went away from home to quite a few teams and had long periods without the ball. It is important that we stay switched on, and not only worry about their strengths, but try to impose ourselves on them.
“Sometimes you can get carried away thinking about other teams, especially in this league because there are some great individual players, but we believe that we can hurt other people as well, so it won’t all be a case of sitting back and inviting pressure and almost waiting for them to score.
“We have been quite attacking this year. We think that attack is a great form of defence if we keep switched on, recognise opportunities to press and take the ball off of them and try to go and create chances ourselves.”
The former Stevenage winger, who was Burton Albion’s top scorer last season, has three goals to his name already during this season. The Brewers have won just once in their last five, but could go as high as 13th with a victory over Reading.
The Royals themselves could move up to third with a win, overtaking Akins’ home town of Huddersfield.