Graham Alexander pleased to see Salford earn a replay with Burton

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2019 by PA

Salford City boss Graham Alexander is delighted to still be in the FA Cup after seeing Richie Towell’s cracking late strike earn his side a 1-1 first round draw against League One Burton.

It looked as though the Brewers were about to secure their first FA Cup win since 2013 when Scott Fraser side-footed home to open the scoring in the 78th minute.

However, Towell’s pile-driver soon after earned the Ammies a second bite at a side from the division above.

Alexander said: “I thought we played really well. We were aggressive from the start and we created a number of opportunities.

“We had to show a degree of respect against a good Burton side, and then I didn’t think we deserved to go a goal behind when we did.

“The response after that was excellent from the lads.

“They didn’t let their heads go down and Richie’s stunning goal deserved to earn us a replay on its own.

“We know he’s capable of hitting a strike like that, so now we have to go and do it all again down at their place.

“If I’m honest I would have felt really sorry for the lads if we’d lost that game.

“Earning a replay keeps it exciting for us and the fans, but now it’ll be about getting the focus right when the replay comes around.

“This tie definitely isn’t over yet.”

Albion had the ball in the back of the Salford net in the 31st minute, but the effort was ruled out for a handball just before John-Joe O’Toole headed home Fraser’s corner-kick.

Just after the restart Salford skipper Adam Rooney was denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Kieran O’Hara.

Fraser side-footed home following Lucas Akins’ pass in the 78th minute, before Towell lashed home from 22 yards after meeting Rooney’s lay-off.

Burton boss Nigel Clough appeared slightly more relieved to still be in with a chance of sealing a second round spot for the first time in six years.

“The conditions weren’t great today, so the tie was set up for an upset,” said Clough.

“That never looked like happening, though, in my opinion.

“I thought we controlled the game for the most part. We’d got our goal and it was looking as though we had got the victory.

“Credit to Salford, they scored a great goal to earn a replay. There wasn’t much we could do about a strike like that from 25 yards.

“Of course they’re from the division below and they fancied themselves for a shock today, but we dealt with everything they threw at us.

“We’re in the hat for the next round and that’s all that really matters as far as we’re concerned.

“We’ll be favourites to win the replay, and if we dominate as much in the second game as we did here, then we ought to have enough to get through to the next round.”