NIGEL Clough was delighted with "an encouraging" performance as his Brewers beat Premier League Sheffield United 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium.
A header from John Brayford and a late scorcher from Marcus Harness sealed the win.
Clough said: "It's always nice to get a win but that's not what you are looking for at this stage. It's about the physical side of things, a few things in your shape and the performance.
"Most of the lads have had a good 80 minutes and we will try and do the same on Saturday. We still have two and a half weeks to go and we have changed our pre-season schedule a bit this year and we will see if that makes a difference.
"It was good to get some of the young lads on the pitch as even five or ten minutes against a Premier League side will give them a boost and everybody in the Academy below that.
"It was also good to get David Templeton back out there after his injury and the moment he came on he put in a great ball we should have scored from. Every time he got the ball you felt something was going to happen.
"Marcus Harness is also turning into that sort of player and you can see that from his goal tonight. On the back of the five months he had in the team last season, more than anybody he will be looking forward to this season and the chance to kick on."