AFTER a third of the season, Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough says his team should take confidence from how competitive they have been.
“We don’t look out of place,” he says. “That’s the most pleasing thing. We have played our football and we are ahead of where we expected to be in terms of performances – just not points.
“Having played that well, 18 points doesn’t reflect the level of performances.
“We have been in every single game so far and it has been pleasantly surprising how well the players have adapted.
“We are taking a lot from the level of the performances. We thought we would be backs to the wall a lot this season and we haven’t been in any game apart from Brighton. So we take confidence from that and the fact that there isn’t much between teams in the league – anybody can win anytime, anywhere.
“Apart from Newcastle and Brighton I think with for everyone else it’s all up for grabs.”
Clough is now looking to secure a first away victory of the season with tricky trips to Reading and Preston looming and believes clean sheets will be important.
He says: “We are getting more solid as we work on the system and the nuances of it with the wing backs and three centre halves. We are always working on it and talking about it and it’s certainly improving.
“Reading and Preston will be a test but we have to win on the road sooner or later - I hope that it’s at Reading.”