Gary Mills satisfied with Burton’s draw at home to Wycombe

Posted Sunday, January 07, 2024 by PA

Burton caretaker manager Gary Mills was satisfied with a 1-1 draw at home to Wycombe despite leading in the second half.

A low-key encounter came to life in the second half when striker Bez Lubala thumped home his sixth goal of the campaign but Mills had to concede that Sam Vokes’ clinical volley to equalise was just as good.

“I thought it was a fair result” Mills said. “We huffed and puffed in a game where you had to earn the right to play and it was scrappy at times, perhaps lacking in quality at times but it is a hard-earned League One point.

“You go one-nil up and you expect to see it out, particularly with our recent home record, which has been fantastic.

“A little bit disappointed with their goal. We let them travel forwards, didn’t engage and when the cross comes in, what a fantastic strike from Vokes. He was a handful all day.”

Lubala struck for the second home game in a row and led the line well for Albion, who were short of striking options through injuries.

“Bez has been absolutely immense today, causing their two big physical centre halves plenty of problems and his finish was fantastic,” Mills added. “He is a great lad and he works really hard for the team.”

Albion put youth team striker Dylan Scott on the bench such were Mills’ striking options with the caretaker boss hoping to bolster the squad soon.

“We won’t moan and we will get on with it and hope that we can strengthen. It is a big chance for the academy lads at the moment,” he said.

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield had to watch from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban but was pleased with a hard-earned point on the road.

“It’s a very good point” Bloomfield acknowledged. “Burton have been very resolute recently and hard to beat, not conceding many goals at all so we knew we were in for a tough afternoon.

“We knew it was going to be a completely different game from Monday against Bristol Rovers and we had to prepare as such and make sure the boys were ready to win the battle.

“Any point on the road has to be respectable and based on the way we played I thought we probably deserved more from the game, but it wasn’t to be and we have to take the positives and move on.

“I thought we bounced back really well from conceding and possibly deserved to win but it wasn’t to be.

“Sam had a couple of decent headed chances and we delivered some really good chances in to him but it was a really top volley from him for the goal.

“After that David Wheeler and Sam have both hit the bar and we have had numerous chances to win a football match. We have to be proud of the way we played and build on that.”