Nigel Clough hails fox-in-the-box defender John Brayford

Posted Sunday, January 20, 2019 by PA

Nigel Clough revealed Burton’s surprise two-goal hero John Brayford would not have typically been in position to strike as he did against Doncaster.

Brayford gave Burton an early lead before heading in a last-minute equaliser – both from corners – to end a near 500-game personal barren spell in front of goal.

And following the 2-2 draw, Clough said the centre-half would not usually have been in the opposition box for a set piece.

“Normally he doesn’t go up for corners but with us having Josh Clarke in the team, him and Reece Hutchinson with the pace would stay back,” Clough said.

“Jake Buxton won the first header for both goals and John has ended up finishing both off. I think it’s doubled his career tally, I’m not sure about anything else.

“I don’t remember him scoring many – maybe one or two in the Conference. But they were two very important goals for us.

“John was alive in the box for both but the first header from Jake was just as important on both occasions.”

Doncaster roared back in the second half, with a double from substitute Tyler Smith on his EFL debut turning the game on its head.

But they failed to see the game out as Brayford headed in from a corner, giving Burton what Clough thought was a deserved point.

“It was a very good point,” he said. “In the first half I thought we should have been more than one ahead with the way we started the game in the first 25 minutes.”

Grant McCann believes set-piece defending has cost his Doncaster side five points from their last two games.

Fresh from conceding three goals in the final 13 minutes to lose at Wycombe last week, Rovers were again stung by a last-minute equaliser.

“It’s a frustrating day and we have to move on very quickly from it,” McCann said. “It does feel like a defeat.

“We’re still working. We’ve been really strong on set plays over the last 13 or 14 games but the last couple of weeks we’ve lost control of it and it’s cost us five points.”

McCann hailed the impact of on-loan Sheffield United striker Smith following his two-goal blast.

“He’s a good player, very sharp and I’m pleased he’s come on and made an impact,” McCann said. “I think that’s his first goals in the Football League and his first appearance.

“He’s someone we’ve kept an eye on for a few months and he showed what he was all about with those two goals.

“Alfie May and Tyler Smith, their introductions at half-time got us back in the game and almost won it for us.”