NIGEL Clough is targeting six points from two home games this week as he looks for a push towards the top six.
The Brewers play Southend tomorrow (7.45pm kick off) and Lincoln on Saturday (3pm kick off) and the Albion manager is looking to make home advantage count as his team plays catch up.
Albion have played only six home games so far this campaign – the least in the league - but now have four between tomorrow and Boxing Day.
Clough said: “If we can get six points from these two games we will be in the top half of the league. We have two games in hand, one of them is tomorrow, so let’s make it count.”
Southend are in the relegation zone, but Clough says the Brewers won’t be underestimating them.
He said: “Southend will be fresh this week and although they have been struggling, they are showing signs of improvement. We will be taking nothing for granted. League position goes out of the window in our division and everyone is capable of beating everyone else.
“Sol Campbell is starting to imprint his style on the team, and they are capable of scoring goals.”
Clough’s biggest worry is the niggling injuries in the squad and how much three away games on the bounce have taken out of his players.
He said: “We hope our lads can recover in time and we can get those points.
“We got Reece Hutchinson back on the pitch at Oldham which gives us options down the left-hand side.
“And the good thing, but frustrating thing, is that all the injuries are only a week or two – Oliver Sarkic, John Brayford, Nathan Broadhead.
“Oliver hasn’t played this many games with this intensity so we have to look after him, so he doesn’t burn out.
“It was good to give Richard Nartey a rest at Oldham and Scotty Fraser for 70 minutes so hopefully they should be available
“Nathan Broadhead is 50-50 but with the Christmas period coming up if his hamstring goes he’s out for the whole period so we have to be careful of that
“The next couple of months will tell us where we are going to be, so we want as many players as possible fit.”