BURTON Albion are 100 per cent focussed on beating Fleetwood away and fully prepared for the big game tomorrow.
That’s the message from Martin Paterson as the Brewers look to secure their League One status with Cheltenham travelling to Stevenage two points behind Albion and Cambridge, who are at Port Vale, one point ahead and still not safe.
The Brewers manager said: “We are not looking back; we are not looking forward - it’s all been about Fleetwood away. We have concentrated on the game in isolation, preparing ourselves to be calm and to go and execute what we need to do at Fleetwood.
“There has been no change in preparation as we believe in our processes. It’s important not to do anything new or strange but to prepare as we normally do. Fleetwood away is always a tough fixture, regardless of circumstances."
Paterson admits that nerves will play a part with three clubs battling for survival on the last day.
He said: “Human nature when you are fighting for your lives means there are always going to be nerves – that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m sure there will be nerves from the players, from myself, from everybody. It doesn’t have to be a negative; you can use that nervous energy for good. We are prepared, calm and I expect the players to be ready to go and perform.”
The Brewers still have work to do after Cheltenham kept their hopes alive by beating Peterborough on Tuesday. A win tomorrow for Burton Albion will guarantee safety regardless of other results.
Paterson said: “I prepared for the (Cheltenham) result that happened. I told the players that result would happen. It’s irrelevant to us. We have a job to do at Fleetwood. My message straight after the Reading game was that Fleetwood would be a big game for us and that’s what we care about.”
