Delighted Nigel Clough praises Burton’s work-rate in Sunderland victory

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

Nigel Clough was delighted with the effort of his Burton players as they halted Sunderland’s unbeaten league start to the season with a 2-1 victory at the Pirelli Stadium.

First half goals from Jamie Allen, his first at home as a Burton player, and Kyle McFadzean’s header had Albion in control at the break.

Chris Maguire’s 25-yarder put a different perspective on the second half as Burton battled for the three points to earn their third successive home league win.

“I thought that was two teams going at it hammer and tongs,” Clough said. “It wasn’t always the best quality at times but the endeavour and everything that went into the game and the honesty shone out.

“I thought we should have won it more comfortably because of the start to the second half. In that five or six minutes after half time, we should have scored a goal or two and put the game to bed.

“Unfortunately, they go up the other end and one shot from 20-odd yards and it’s in the top-corner and it’s a different game.

“If we had just finished one of those chances before that I think it would have been more comfortable for us. The game changes on the one shot from Maguire.

“But the work-rate all over the pitch shone today and having Stephen Quinn in there just knits it all together.”

Sunderland boss Jack Ross was left to reflect on a first Sky Bet League One defeat of the campaign, a result that leaves his side still in the top six but three points off automatic promotion places.

He said: “The first-half performance is one that if you replicate that, then you won’t win very many football matches at any level of the game.

“The second half was better without being particularly fluent but at least we looked as if we were interested in winning the game.

“First half was way below the standards that we need to be at to be successful this season but it was my team out there today, my selection and my preparation and it falls upon my shoulders as manager to rectify that.

“It’s a real tough ask to come to any team in any league and go two goals behind and get something out of it. Not many teams will come here to Burton and do that.”

Ross acknowledged that his side had been undone from a set-piece once again for Albion’s second goal and it was something that needed addressing.

He added: “We do a huge amount of work on set-pieces but it doesn’t guarantee success or that things won’t happen, but we mustn’t throw our toys out of the pram over it and move away from what we are doing.

“We have worked on it a lot over the last couple of weeks and we will do it again until we stop conceding.”