Friday 23rd November 2007 - Burton 1-2 U's: Special Brew

I wonder who broke that mirror? It must have happened during the first month of the 1999-2000 season; United had just been promoted, they had beaten Reading 3-1 in their first home game in Division Two. Then they went on a fourteen-match run without a win, and the mould was set for season after season of struggle, both on the pitch, then off, worse and worse in a seemingly endless spiral of, well, crapness. And all because someone dropped the club mirror. Or was it broken deliberately? Could the breaker have been... GINGER-HAIRED??

Anyway, the seven-year cycle was broken in September 2006 with the appointment of Our Saviour Jimmy Quinn, although that may not have been apparent at first. Or second. Or third... JQ's first match in charge was at Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium on 19th September last year. Now here we were, fifteen months later, watching the best United team since Roy Mac's promotion winners, a team which, it seems, just does not know how to lose. Seven years of superb, loyal, passionate support is finally beginning to yield its rewards for the long-suffering amber hordes. It is true: success is so much the sweeter after a long period of utter failure. Peterborough supporters will find this out one day, I'm sure.

United lost that first match under Quinn 2-1 and indeed, had failed to beat the Brewers of Burton since tumbling into the Conference, with a solitary point to show from four games. Neither had the amber hordes seen the Pirelli in daylight, with the last two seasons' encounters being on Tuesday evenings and tonight's moved to Friday at the request of the local police, apparently unable to cope with both Derby versus Chelsea and the huge draw of the Mighty U's at Burton on the same day. Perhaps all the police officers were in plain clothes, because only four uniforms were (fleetingly) visible to us all night. Still, how would we have coped without them, eh?

The Pirelli is only some three years old and is a thoroughly decent and unpretentious facility and, gratifyingly, only seated on one side with the other three sides all covered terraces. The enclosed bar/snack outlet underneath the away stand is also cheaply and cosily cheerful and offered a good variety of scran including chip butties and such exotic offerings as faggots and peas - single or double!

The cover of the matchday programme sported a picture of Burton boss Nigel Clough and Prince Edward, smilingly watching Albion's Youth Team Development Squad in training. There is, I believe, an hilarious joke to be made about this, but I understand that I would incur a sentence of twenty years in the Tower of London if I made it. So make up your own.

Even more disturbing was the sight of Burton's mascot, 'Billy,' who with his Council haircut and lopsided grin looks like the village idiot. Apparently he has a companion called 'Betty' (presumably his sister or his wife, or both) but she was nowhere to be seen tonight. Probably babysitting the piglets.

For the supporters it was finally time to break out the winter woollies on the coldest night of the season so far, although pleasingly for the traditionalist, none of the players saw fit to adopt the modern trend of wearing gloves. Apart from the keepers, obviously.

The United line-up sported a mere three survivors from that night fifteen months ago - Peters, Morrison and Wolleaston - although only four remained from the opposing team. There were three changes from the side which beat Northwich, with Gavin Hoyte and Courtney Pitt dropped to the bench and Darryl Knights absent ill. In came Dan Gleeson, returned from suspension, Mark Albrighton, rushed back from injury, and in a last-minute surprise, loan signing Paul Carden from Accrington Stanley in central midfield. Stephen Reed moved to left wing-back in place of Pitt.

The hosts sported the oldest player in the Conference, 44-years-young keeper Kevin Poole, and one of the most prolific front pairings in the league, Shaun Harrad and Daryl Clare, in a team tucked just behind the U's in the table. Burton were unbeaten away from home but had lost twice at the Pirelli, to Oxford and Kidderminster of all teams, but since the latter defeat had hammered in four at Halifax (in the Cup) and Exeter, both hard places to score at all. This could be the toughest of United's tests yet.

Opening exchanges saw United enjoy the greater share of possession, and their first corner within ninety seconds saw Reed's flag-kick nodded wide by Mark Peters. The hosts responded with a blaster well over by Marc Goodfellow a minute later, while on 5 Lee Boylan ran onto a Mark Convery through ball and almost surprised Poole with an early half-volley which flew just wide of the post.

Such was the early pattern, with a lot of industry and movement but little goalmouth action. Burton wingman Keith Gilroy fired wide from range on 7 and Aaron Webster sent another snowball into the freezing night sky five minutes later, but neither keeper had a great deal to do to keep himself warm, United resembling snowmen in their all-white away strip against Burton's luminous home colours which could only be described as 'linesman's flag yellow.' Yellow snow...?

All in all, a most satisfactory start for the visitors. But on 17 the hosts took the lead with their first shot on target. It had been touch and go whether Albrighton would be fit, and the reason for concern was exposed when a through ball was played down the left channel for Gilroy. The United skipper gave chase, but he simply could not sprint properly, lurching uncharacteristically awkwardly after the Burton winger. Gilroy got near the byline and crossed back into the middle, where Harrad arrived unmarked to slide comfortably home from less than ten yards out. Had the gamble backfired? 1-0.

The confidence and self-belief flooded through the hosts, and after a disjointed opening they suddenly began to rediscover the neat, flowing passing football that Clough has instilled in them, and which had defeated the U's three times in the previous two seasons. Gleeson picked up the first card on 18 for a tackle on Gilroy that would have been considered overly agricultural even in Chatteris.

Three minutes later Clare was awarded a soft free-kick after a clash with Peters and curled his effort a few yards wide. United lacked a cutting edge at this stage; Carden and Convery were passing tidily in deep positions, but Wolleaston simply wasn't at the races and the naturally defensive tendencies of both wing-backs meant that there was precious little supply for front men Boylan and Rendell to feed on. Peters was a rock at the back but it was obvious that Albrighton was nowhere near full fitness.

United did manage a shot on goal on 28, Convery sending a rising howitzer narrowly over the top from twenty yards, but otherwise the match became bogged down in midfield, which would have been fairly satisfactory if the U's had been holding the hosts at 0-0, but was less so at one down.

The hosts came close to doubling their lead on 37 when a Gilroy corner found the head of his skipper Mark Greaves, but his powerful nod was pawed superbly over the bar by a diving Danny Potter. Greaves got another header in from a corner on 42, but was this time off target, and a minute from the interval Gilroy sent a punt into Potter's welcoming midriff.

It was cold on the terraces, but United's performance had thus far been as tepid as Steve McClaren's future job prospects (hands off our Jimmy, Barwick!). Time for JQ to turn up the heat in the dressing room.

There was an added briskness to United's collective step when they emerged for part two, although they conceded the first free-kick on 48 when Morrison fouled Gilroy, Clare again curling one wide. But two minutes later a free-kick at the other end altered the course of the whole match.

The U's were now attacking the away end, full of an impressively numerous and noisy amber contingent despite being crammed into half their usual space due to the presence of a typically intrusive Setanta camera position. Greaves felled Rendell 25 yards out and Convery touched the kick sideways to Reed. His shot had undeniable power but was sailing wide until it cannoned off the hapless Webster's head and arced unerringly into the top corner past a helpless Poole. They all count: 1-1!

It may technically have been an o.g., but we don't want to deny Reed his first goal for United. Now we had a real contest on our hands, as the U's came out of their shells. Burton responded, Albrighton foiling Clare with a splendid sliding tackle on 53, then a minute later the hosts threaded their way through the United rearguard to set up Clare with what looked like a tap-in, but Potter saved brilliantly from close range with a dive low to his right. Harrad was lurking to tuck home the rebound, but somehow Potter got a touch to that too and tipped over for a corner. Breathless stuff.

Greaves headed Gilroy's ensuing corner wide, and the visitors responded within a minute. Rendell had been roaming tirelessly across the front line, and he chased a long ball into the corner. He knocked it past Webster then gave chase along the byline; Greaves was favourite to get to it first, but the young striker wouldn't give it up and won it with a tremendous tackle, crossing low towards Boylan at the near post. Poole dived to get a touch but could only paw it towards a now prone Boylan, and in a flailing tangle of arms and legs, Boylan prodded towards goal from three yards out but could not get sufficient purchase to get it past the assorted bodies on the line before it was cleared.

Next minute Carden, calmness personified in the eye of the storm, hammered a long-ranger over, then Gleeson cut in from the right and almost sent a cross-shot in under the bar from a tight angle until Poole tipped over. JQ however was not satisfied with United's revival and made two changes on the hour, Leo Fortune-West replacing Boylan and Pitt coming on for Convery, allowing Reed to tuck into a more central role. The U's were going for the win!

So, however, were Burton, and they nearly regained the lead on 63, Clare setting up John McGrath as he drove into the area and Potter at his best again to stop magnificently. By now the contest was more absorbing than a lorryload of Andrex, and two minutes later came what might well have been the turning point.

Tussling in typical fashion, Clare felled Peters with a blatant elbow and was rewarded with an instant red card from ref Scott. The big man does not go down lightly. And two minutes further on, United took the lead.

Corbett lost possession in midfield and Pitt was away like a shot down the left, leaving Greaves trailing in his wake. His low cross bisected the six-yard box with pinpoint accuracy, and there was that man Rendell arriving at the far post to fire low back across Poole and into the net. Super stuff: 2-1!

The comeback kings had done it again. To their credit, however, Burton redoubled their efforts and it was clear that the outcome was still far from decided. Harrad headed a Webster cross over on 74 and two minutes later Albrighton was carded for bringing down the remaining Brewers striker. LFW charged down Gilroy's free-kick, and Albrighton blocked a Harrad shot.

With Burton's pressure, however, came vulnerability as United began to use their numerical supremacy to catch them on the break. The hosts had Michael Simpson booked for fouling Reed on 79, then LFW chased a long ball to the corner, beat his man and crossed, Rendell winning a tackle to cause it to run to Wolleaston just inside the box; the midfield maestro's angled scudder flew across goal and just wide of the far post.

With ten minutes to go Clough made a curious change, withdrawing Goodfellow and introducing Darren Stride, a defender, as a second striker, although their normal third-choice striker Jake Edwards remained on the bench. Looks like eccentricity runs in the family, young man.

United, however, remained solid at the back, a doughty three reinforced by the wing-backs and Mr Cool Carden just in front. This solid base permitted Rendell, LFW and Wolleaston to make several dangerous counter-attacks in a last few minutes in which the visitors could and should have doubled their lead.

One such break on 85 saw Wolleaston hare down the right, get to the byline and cross low into the six-yard box where our Leo was arriving unchecked. But with all the goal to aim at, he directed his point-blank shot far too close to Poole, who clutched gratefully on his line. A minute later Wolleaston tested the keeper himself with a shot to no avail, and on 89 LFW ran onto a ball down the left channel, beat Greaves with some fancy footwork but was unable to beat Poole with his curling shot from an angle, with Rendell waiting in vain and in space to his right.

Four added minutes were indicated and United spent most of it comfortably in the Burton half, although Scott blotted his copybook by penalising the U's for the non-offence of keeping the ball in the corner and his linesman got around his match-long problem of getting his decisions wrong by simply shutting his eyes and guessing. Wrongly.

Then it was all over, and the loyal amber hordes acclaimed yet another fantastic, gutsy triumph over formidable close rivals. JQ even joined in the celebrations by literally doffing his cap to them. We have all waited seven long years for a fabulous season like this; long may it continue!

Statto Corner
On Friday United created another club record: it was the first time in the club's history that they had won four consecutive league and cup games by exactly the same score. The U's did manage four consecutive 1-1 draws once, in the space of eleven days between 20th and 30th September 1986.

Having now won five in a row, this team's next target is the six consecutive victories achieved by Roy Mac's men between 5th January and 6th February 1999, which comprised four in the league and two in the Auto Windscreens Shield, including a penalty shoot-out against Exeter City.

Until Friday night, United's Conference record against Burton had been poor. This was in stark contrast to the clubs' meetings during the 1960s when they were rivals in the Southern League. In nineteen games, Burton won exactly once, in the 1969-70 Southern League Cup. They never beat the U's in twelve league encounters (eight United wins, four draws) or four Midland Floodlit League games (two United wins, two draws).

Debutant Paul Carden had played against United four times in his career and never lost, appearing in an April 1999 1-1 draw for Rochdale, two 0-0 draws for Chester in 2004-05, and in Burton's 2-1 win at the Abbey on 30th December last year.

Player Ratings
Potter 9. Fantastic saves when it mattered.
Albrighton 8. Battled superbly considering his obvious lack of match fitness.
Peters 9. As colossal as something very colossal indeed.
Morrison 8. Strong and steady.
Gleeson 8. Played a vital part to the team effort.
Wolleaston 8. Once he got going in the second half, he was a constant thorn in Burton's side on the break.
Carden 9. So cool he may as well have been playing in shades and a pork pie hat.
Convery 8. Great improvement on last week and getting back towards his passing best.
Reed 8. A bit too cautious when playing wide left, much better when stationed inside Pitt.
Boylan 8. Not given the greatest service but a frequent menace nonetheless.
Rendell 9. Simply awesome in the second half.

Pitt 8. Found his crossing boots in resounding style.
Fortune-West 8. Pulled Burton all over the place, although will be kicking himself that he didn't take his chances.

NB these ratings reflect United's superb second-half performance. You could safely deduct one or two marks from almost every player for their first half displays!

Match Summary
If United carry on like this much longer, there's going to be a world superlative shortage. Another comeback from behind, another away victory over tough promotion rivals, another team performance stuffed with character, guts and splendid football. At last our fantastic supporters have the team they deserve.

Man of the Match
Scott Rendell. Who would have thought we would have found Robbie Simpson's replacement so quickly? His lung-bursting, intelligent runs, tremendous workrate and clinical finishing were a masterclass of centre-forward play from one who is still so young. The world is his lobster.

Ref Watch
Scott 8. What a rare pleasure to see a ref who takes the trouble to communicate intelligently with players instead of just waving cards at them, and who tries to keep the game flowing. Particularly impressive as his 'assistants' were the most hopeless pair of dingbats seen in public since the last Big Brother couple.

Non-League Player's Name of the Week
Ossett Town's tasty Aiden Savoury.

Soundtrack of the Day
Cats And Cats And Cats 'Fight Fight With Fight'

The MP3 Files
Mark Peters lends an ear to the Pirelli Stadium sounds. "Believe it or not, I'm not as young as I used to be, and although I still enjoy a blast of Classic Rock with the best of 'em, I find myself seeking out more mellow listening pleasure too, these days. Not that I'm interested in James Blunt or Michael Buble or any of that Radio 2 nonsense, of course - I haven't given up on life completely yet! So it was nice to hear that pleasant girl Feist played at Burton the other night. Lovely voice, she could be the next Shirley Bassey if she plays her cards right!

"Most of the rest was toe-tapping, contemporary stuff like the Kaiser Chiefs, the Hoosiers and Amy Winehouse - I don't what's most daft, her tattoos, her hairstyle or her drug habit! - and nearing kickoff some rabble-rousing tunes like Pigbag (still a cracker, that), Republica and Fatboy Slim. The teams ran out to the Dandy Warhols, who also know their way around a catchy song or two. So it was all very enjoyable - almost as much as the result! Hwyl!" MP3 verdict: 9/10.

Andrew Bennett

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