Nigel Clough hails ruthless Burton as Blackpool put to sword

Posted Sunday, March 17, 2019 by PA

Burton boss Nigel Clough hailed the ruthlessness of his side after claiming a first home league win since Boxing Day.

The Brewers outclassed Blackpool after Liam Boyce, Jamie Allen and Lucas Akins scored in a 3-0 win to move Albion onto 50 points.

“It’s about time we got three points here” Clough declared.

“The performance wasn’t too much different to some in recent weeks but we put our chances away and we put them away at good times as well. That’s the only difference today.

“It was a good solid three points and performance at home.”

Clough opted to play two up front for the first time in a while and was vindicated as both strikers found the net and got an assist each as well.

“We haven’t been getting much from our wide positions recently and we just thought we’d have a look at something a little different.

“We knew that Blackpool would be strong down the middle. We wanted Will Miller in there buzzing around the two strikers and we felt it was the right time to bring Liam Boyce back in after his little rest.

“Both of the strikers today made one for each other and scored which makes it a perfect partnership day. There have been plenty of games where we have had chances and not put them away and today we did.

“We reduced them to just two or three efforts and I thought Brad Collins, considering the conditions was excellent. He has made a good save in the 94th minute and 3-1 doesn’t sound as good as 3-0.”

It was an afternoon to forget though for Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips who has now seen his side win just one of their last eight league games as hopes of a late dash for the play-offs look to be evaporating.

“We were really poor today” McPhillips said candidly after the game. “As poor as we were at Bristol Rovers you say that it is a one-off but it hasn’t been has it?

“I thought Longy could have scored first after a great cross by (Liam) Feeney but he has elected to go with his feet rather than a diving header and Nya (Kirby) has had a turn and shot at the end. I’ve just looked at the stats and some of them look quite equal but stats aren’t always correct are they?”

McPhillips could only watch as at 1-0 down experienced keeper Mark Howard had to leave the pitch on a stretcher after an Achilles injury with 21-year-old substitute Myles Boney making his league debut and being culpable for Albion’s second goal.

“It doesn’t look good for Mark. He has been superb for us and its not good news for us. It’s Myles’ league debut and he is a great kid who has just made a mistake.

“He’s thinking of starting an attack before he’s got the ball and then lost the flight of the ball. He’s held his hand up in the dressing room, as have a few of them today. They know its not good enough. It’s not us, it’s not acceptable and we will see what happens next week as regards a team for Bradford.”