MANAGER Jake Buxton felt Burton Albion were punished for two sloppy set pieces in our 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town.
Albion's 2020/21 season began in defeat as goals from Callum Camps and Paddy Madden, either side of a John Brayford header, saw Fleetwood to three points.
It was a game in which both sides could have scored more, with the woodwork rattled at least four times throughout - but Buxton felt the Brewers paid for the manner in which they defended their box at key moments.
"Today I’m not disappointed with the performance, I’m just disappointed that the players haven’t defended the box - and that’s everybody," said Buxton.
"We played some great football throughout but what we’re disappointed in most is that we didn’t match the intensity of Fleetwood. They played a lot of long balls from the goalkeeper and I expected us to deal with it a little bit more comfortably.
"Ultimately for the first game of the season, we did okay. There are areas to improve in and two set plays have cost us."
The Brewers went in a goal down at the break following Camps' opener, but deservedly equalised on 66 minutes through Brayford - though they had to wait a few minutes while the officials discussed a potential offside as Brayford's powerful header from a corner came through a sea of bodies.
That goal, coming from a set play of our own, pleased Buxton, as did the way in which Albion took control for spells of the second half, but the manager remained disappointed in Albion's defending of set pieces at the opposite end.
"I thought we created enough," said Buxton. "We created numerous chances, as did Fleetwood.
"Chris (Beardsley) and Ross (Atkins) have been working with the players on the set pieces. Ours was a great goal but I back the lads in our team to deal with aerial duels and at times we didn’t today.
"In the second half I thought we got hold of the game, created opportunities and looked dangerous. I thought we really got into the rhythm. But if you don’t defend your box, it’s going to cost you."