JAKE Buxton says that Saturday’s clash between Burton Albion and Derby County is a big occasion for both teams, and has emphasised the importance of picking up points at Pride Park.
Buxton joined Derby from the Brewers in 2009 and stayed at Pride Park until 2016. The defender believes that the strong connection that existed between the two clubs in Burton’s lower league days is still there, but has lessened in recent years, and he says that Burton will only be thinking about picking up points on Saturday.
“I think that over the years there has been a connection (between the two clubs), when I was first here eight or nine years ago we had lads on-loan from and when I went to Derby, we had signed a few players from Burton. I think that relationship got lost two or three years ago abut I think that there is a good relationship again between the two clubs, even though we are in the same division.
“But, as players, we need the points. We will be scrapping and fighting for everything on Saturday.”
“I think that it will be a big game for both clubs, it has been turned into a bit of an ‘A38 local derby’ in the past 16 months, so it is a big occasion for both clubs, probably bigger for us because we need the points more than them.
“I think that Derby County will look at the fixtures and probably not look at this one as big as the Nottingham Forest or Leeds games, but for Burton Albion, and us as players, it is a massive game.
“Our away form has been good so it bodes well for a good game, and after watching them against Ipswich, there is an opportunity for us if we start bright and get after them."