NIGEL Clough says the heavy defeat at Manchester City should take nothing away from the achievement of getting to the Carabao Cup semi-finals for his Brewers team.
The Brewers lost 9-0 in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium to a strong Manchester City team.
The Albion manager said: "We expected that level of quality from the players they had out there.
"The quality of the runs they make and the delivery of the ball, Premier League teams and the best in Europe can't stop them so I don't know what little Burton Albion are going to do stop them.
"We got forward when we could and Marcus Harness had a great chance at 1-0. That wouldn't have altered the evening too much but it would have been nice to get a goal.
"The worst part about it was our fans getting stuck in the traffic problems tonight making their way here. They were here to celebrate not tonight's game but the fact that we had reached this semi-final. After beating Middlesbrough and seeing the three teams who were left we knew we were in trouble but the achievement of getting to this point is what it is all about.
"We knew we could play the game of our lives tonight and still be on the end of a hammering. We didn't play brilliantly and a couple of the goals we were disappointed with as we should have defended them better but the gulf in quality was very evident and the players came in at half-time and were wide eyed with what they have played against tonight.
"We can't buy that kind of experience for our young lads and for the players who have come through our Academy that gives them first hand experience of what playing against top players is like.
"We will still enjoy the occasion at the Pirelli Stadium in two weeks' time, the supporters and everybody.
"What we don't want is this result to affect our season. It has been an incredible achievement to get here but we are in a good position in the league to push on and if we can do a bit of business in the transfer window and help the numbers along in the squad we can stay positive for the rest of the season."