Burton Albion 1-2 Town - Match Report
Saturday, 28th Oct 2017 17:07 Bersant Celina came off the bench to curl home a brilliant 89th minute freekick and complete a Blues comeback as they came from behind to beat Burton Albion 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium. Ben Turner put the Brewers deservedly in front before Martyn Waghorn equalised prior to Celina's late stunner.
Mick McCarthy has named an attacking line-up featuring all four of his frontline strikers, David McGoldrick, Joe Garner, Waghorn and Freddie Sears.
The Blues started in a system with Sears, Garner and Waghorn ahead of McGoldrick playing in a role between the front three and deeper midfield pairing Cole Skuse and Tristan Nydam.
The injured Tom Adeyemi dropped out of the team for Sears, who scored in both games against the Brewers last season, while Kevin Bru was on the bench for only the third time this season.
For Burton, keeper Connor Ripley was handed his league debut, while right-back John Brayford misses out with a hamstring injury.
Former Blues striker Luke Varney and ex-loan keeper Stephen Bywater were among the Brewers’ subs.
The first chance of the game fell to the home side, Jake Buxton flicking Matty Lund’s sixth-minute freekick from the left straight at Bartosz Bialkowski.
Two minutes later, Marvin Sordell saw a shot deflect wide for a corner. From the flag-kick, the ball eventually ran to Turner at a tight angle on the left from where he hit a shot into the side-netting, some of the Brewers support initially thinking it had gone in.
Town struggled to make too much headway in a tight opening to the game in which Burton gave the Blues little time on the ball and they were largely limited to long balls forward to their front three which the home defence dealt with comfortably.
Presumably as a result, after Sordell had undergone treatment in the 18th minute, Town tweaked their system with McGoldrick moving to the right side of a three behind Garner with Waghorn in the centre and Sears to the left.
Town had looked to catch the Brewers on the counter-attack from the off but were unable to do so until the 27th minute when, after a decent Burton move had broken down, McGoldrick found Sears breaking in space on the left. However, the former Colchester man’s cross flew beyond the far post and out for a goalkick.
The Blues eventually began to make more of an impression and on the half hour Waghorn cleverly turned away from his man midway inside the Burton half before playing in McGoldrick, whose low shot was saved down to his left by Ripley.
Moments later, Garner struck an effort from distance which appeared to catch a Brewers player on the way wide but referee Simon Hooper gave a goalkick.
Town’s two strikes led to sarcastic chants of ‘we’ve had a shot’ from the Town support behind the goal at the other end.
Burton were next to threaten, Sordell hitting a low shot from 20 yards which Bialkowski spilled. However, the keeper was able to block the follow-up from Lund at point-blank.
The Brewers had an even better opportunity in the 35th minute, Sordell feeding in Dyer on the right of the area but Bialkowski saved with an outstretched boot as the winger looked to shoot across him into the far corner.
The wind that Town had played into all half got stronger as the half wore on, Bialkowski finding harder and harder to get distance on his long kicks.
On 44 Lund shot wide from not far outside the area, then just before the period moved into one additional minute, McGoldrick was sent away on the left but the Blues frontman could only find the side-netting.
Seconds before the whistle there was a big scare for Town when Sordell was sent away behind the backline - the former Watford man looked to have been well offside - but fortunately for the Blues he shot wide.
The end of the half was greeted by boos from the Town support, the Blues having been underwhelming throughout the half, unable to gain the upper hand, impose themselves on the game or retain the ball.
Burton had had much the better of the period and might well have been ahead but for some less than clinical finishing and a couple of stops from Bialkowski, who really ought to have been worked more.
Town would need to be much better after the break if they were to return to winning ways.
The second half started much as the second had ended, along with this season’s first chants of ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is s–t’ from the travelling fans.
Lund hit a 50th minute shot from the edge of the box which was blocked, then Stephen Warnock’s cross from the left flashed across the Town area without a Burton player being able to add a touch.
Town almost carved out the game’s opening goal in the 52nd minute, Waghorn doing well before Garner threaded in McGoldrick but Jake Buxton made an important challenge. From the corner, a Burton defender inadvertently and fortunately looped the ball straight back to Ripley.
Blues skipper Luke Chambers was subsequently booked, apparently for hampering the keeper as he looked to clear quickly, although it seemed harsh.
The game was becoming more open and Burton weren’t far away from going in front in the 55th minute when Luke Murphy hit a shot from the edge of the box which Bialkowski superbly tipped wide.
But the Brewers, who had gone five games without scoring prior to the match, weren’t to be denied for much longer. Lund sent in the corner from the right, Garner was unable to rise high enough and Turner behind him nodded over Bialkowski and into the net.
As the home fans celebrated, the chants from the Town support regarding McCarthy’s style of football immediately restarted.
The Blues immediately switched Nydam for Bru, who was making his first appearance of the season, and Burton swapped Jamie Allen for Matty Palmer.
As the game reached the 65th minute mark Town finally began to put the home side under some sustained pressure. Garner saw a number of crosses from the right blocked and eventually a loose ball fall to him 20 yards out and the Blues’ top scorer slammed his seventh of the season through a crowd of players and into the net to level.
The goal lifted Town and in the 71st minute they should have gone in front. Waghorn out-battled Kyle McFadzean inside the Burton box to the left and found himself one-on-one with Ripley at a tight angle with Sears breaking to the far post. Waghorn opted to shoot with the outside of his boot and Ripley helped it past the post.
On 72 Sears was replaced by Grant Ward, then three minutes later, with the Blues’ confidence evidently growing, McGoldrick cut in from the left and smashed a shot not too far wide. Soon after, former Blue Varney replaced Sordell for the Brewers.
Waghorn was booked for a foul on Murphy on 78 as the Town support called for the introduction of on-loan Manchester City winger Celina, whose future with the Blues beyond the turn of the year has been the subject of speculation following an ambiguous tweet last night.
With six minutes remaining the fans got their wish, the Kosovan international taking over from McGoldrick.
And what an impact he made. On 89 the 21-year-old looked to find room for a shot as he brought the ball in from the left following Bru’s short corner.
Eventually he tried to play a pass into the box, then was unceremoniously sent flying by a wild Warnock challenge which may have been fortunate to draw only a yellow card from referee Hooper.
Celina took the freekick himself and brilliantly curled the ball to Ripley’s left and into the net to send the Town support wild.
The goalscorer himself took his shirt off and threw it deep into the Blues supporters at the side of the pitch before celebrating with his team-mates and those behind the goal before posing Cristiano Ronaldo style.
After the lengthy process of getting his shirt back from the crowd was completed, Celina, who has taken his goals tally to four, accepted his yellow card.
Having taken the lead, Town looked a completely different team to the one which had laboured for much of the match and might even have scored again, with Waghorn unable to turn a Ward cross from the right home, then Celina not too far away from a second having cut in from the left but Ripley blocked.
Burton never looked like getting an equaliser in the closing minutes and Hooper’s whistle confirmed Town’s first win after three successive defeats.
The Blues deserved to be behind to Turner's goal after a thoroughly drab first hour but had started to get on top ahead of Waghorn's goal.
Town were the more likely victors having equalised but without creating too many opportunities before Celina's brilliant winner.
The result sees the Blues move up one place to 10th, one point off the play-offs ahead of Tuesday's trip to third-placed Cardiff, who drew 0-0 at home to Millwall today.
Burton: Ripley, Warnock, McFadzean, Buxton (c), Turner, Murphy, Allen (Palmer 59), Lund, Akins, Dyer, Sordell (Varney 76). Unused: Bywater, Flanagan, Naylor, Akpan, Barker.
Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Webster, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Skuse, Nydam (Bru 59), Sears (Ward 72), Waghorn, McGoldrick (Celina 84), Garner. Unused: Gerken, Iorfa, Connolly, Downes. Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire). Att: 4,110.
Photo: Action Images
Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
ArnieM added 21:16 - Oct 28
It's about picking the best "team", to achieve the task in hand. And provide entertainment.
Mick McCarthy hasn't got a Scooby Doo, when it comes to game plan, playing the most effective player combinations, or players in their correct positions. THAT is what your so called hypocrites ( twtders) are complaining about mate !
Having just got back from the Burton game today , I can tell you the Town side were second best for the majority of the game today. During the first half we mustered ONE decent shot of goal from memory. We were absolutely dire, and it looks to all intents and purposes like the Town players are not playing for the manager anymore! Yes really!! They couldn't be bothered.
The rumour doing the rounds now is that McCarthy has told his players he will not be staying on , thank flick for that! And that he has potentially four games. Again , thank fluck for that!
His departure can't come soon enough for me. His style of Football is archaic, boring and he hasn't got a bloody clue about how to get the best out of his players , or various formations. I doubt he even knows his best team.
Mick. , just go FFS! |  | |
Jollyblue added 21:18 - Oct 28
Man City must have include a pay as you play deal as part of the loan fee. The only logical reason why Celina isnt playing more. |  | |
minesapint added 21:21 - Oct 28
Comments about how brilliant Celina is remind me of similar claims concerning a certain Paul Taylor. Whatever happened to that fantastic player (according to many posters on this site) about whom the dinosaur was sceptical?
Who had heard of Celina before MM got him on loan?
Is it possible that a man who played at the top level and has managed successfully a series of clubs plus the Irish national side knows less about football than we fans do?
Why is it that fans all over the country would love to have MM as their manager?
Do you want another Roy Keane wasting the ME's money on the likes of Lee Martin?
Where would we find anyone better given the financial reality at Ipswich?
Finally, let me be the first to say that if MM leaves at the end of the season, by September 2018 we might well wish we still had him. | | |
Jollyblue added 21:30 - Oct 28
@minesapint. Fair points and i agree with a lot of what you say. Im not an Outer. What i would say is that chasing the game against Norwich we only gave the guy 15 minutes. That was 10 mins too late. We could have put them under more pressure as 1-0 or 2-0 really didnt matter if we were going to lose. With the defence and defensive midfield we can play this should allow us to be a little more adventurous a bit earlier in games at the least. | | |
itfcbam added 22:02 - Oct 28
Regardless of what we might think of the manager a win in our game in hand and we are in the top 6. This for a club whose size now is arguably far nearer bottom 6 should mean we are punching above our weight. Yet many keyboard warriors are moaning massively. Results compared to realistic expectations given budgets etc will determine the managers future. Till then we should be behind the team regardless of the manager, if from the position we are in as supporters we can't then I seriously question us as so called supporters.
Q the negative marks! | | |
itfchorry added 22:12 - Oct 28
Gcon -
This is a site for fans to voice their opinions.
Just because you don't agree with what the majority
are quite rightly raising in relation to McCarthy you
can't tell people to go and support another team.
Bet you are the sort of person who wants another
Referendum on brexit because you didn't get your own way.
Why do you always get voted down ?
Not even backed by your mates -
Dyed blue
sw98
Gimminmsmustang
| | |
Kirbmeister added 22:47 - Oct 28
I just saw MM's interview on the Championship programme. It's a total war of attrition between MM and town fans now. Neither will budge an inch between now and the summer when Mick's contract is up and he'll be gone, after which we can all move on. | | |
GiveusaWave added 23:06 - Oct 28
For 85 minutes Bialkowski kept us in the game, then Celina came on and won it for us. BUT some of the worst football I have seen us play. The crowd literally went mental when we got our first shot on goal in the 30 something minute. We should have lost this but for some incredible goal-keeping and some poor finishing from their forwards. Outplayed and outmuscled In midfield, we very much looked second best. Glad for the 3 points but we were VERY lucky with this one....
How Celina isn't starting is beyond me...simply don't understand it. No criticism of Bru today (he actually played ok)...but he should never have been allowed to come on ahead of Celina. Our main creative talent is just sitting there on the bench....frustrating for us and frustrating for him...
And can I say also that he actually shows PASSION...something Osman said we lacked against Norwich.
Man of the Match clearly Bialkowski...but thank God for the few minutes Celina had on the pitch... |  | |
runaround added 01:06 - Oct 29
A much needed win with some tough looking games to come. I know we're only a point of sixth with a game in hand on many but it's about getting enough points to avoid a relegation struggle for me as I feel the club is in a mess & won't improve until end of season. Mick just can't seem to get his tactics right anymore & his selections/tactics are baffling and damaging. To play your favourites & shoehorning them into team out of position is wrong & a sure sign he's finished here. Leaving out Celina now would be stubborn & stupid but I have no doubt Mick won't start him. A football manager should not be allowed to act in such a way by the owner but Evans seems disinterested and clueless |  | |
Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:11 - Oct 29
There is relief and a certain amount of pride in that we got victory from todays game but there are those who know enough to present an accurate picture of what occurred out there and looking at the bigger picture it once again makes for some level of concern. Victory is all very well but to achieve it in the manner we did and all things considered, that was once again something of a steal.
The irony is, had it remained as it is until the closing moments i.e. taken a point from today, doubtless McCarthy would have resembled a pig in sh1t, wallowing in the grandeur of his "achievement" and subsequent palm pressing and back slapping with similar small minded individuals who control this club and possess minimal interest in ever seeing this team regain anything like it's previous stature.
Today represents a very good score , only in that we once again got away with something we hardly deserved. The down side is that is salvages McCarthy's ass for another week or two. But in truth, whatever may have occurred out there today, what odds Marcus Evans would have taken ANY degree of action. The quicker both these individuals have vacated their respective positions from this club essentially can't arrive soon enough. |  | |
shakytown added 01:37 - Oct 29
Awful performance and extremely lucky to get three points. No plan at all from this hopeless manager. Sack him now!!!!!!! | | |
Swn98 added 06:59 - Oct 29
Warktheline frankly i couldnt care less what you do!!! | | |
bobble added 07:21 - Oct 29
Celina has an ego as big as micks, we cannot have both in the same team...bye bye mick.. |  | |
bobble added 07:21 - Oct 29
Celina has an ego as big as micks, we cannot have both in the same team...bye bye mick.. | | |
grumpyoldman added 07:57 - Oct 29
Gcon do you really understand what it is to be a football supporter, once you choose your team, for whatever reason you are stuck with them forever, they could be end up in the National league but they are still your team. Telling somebody to go and support another team shows your total ignorance of what it is to be a fan. I hate the way MM is running this team, how nobody above the rank of genuine supporter really cares about what is happening, that is no disrespect to anybody who disagrees with my opinion. In the end we all wants what is best for ITFC, we just want it to happen under a different manager. | | |
stevelincsexile added 08:30 - Oct 29
I don't know how many of you remember Eric Gates but I think Celina could play the same roll just behind 2 strikers he would get us a dozen goals this season that is without his free kicks. | | |
Spanishblueblood added 08:40 - Oct 29
Gcon,
Like MM, you are a clueless buffoon! I guarantee you that by christmas we will be nowhere near the playoffs, unless of course MM gets the sack snd we bring in a forward thinking manager! | | |
itfchorry added 08:54 - Oct 29
Time for us who love this club to stand together
and remove McCarthy, Evans and Milne | | |
Steelmonkey added 09:05 - Oct 29
Well if the performance today was as bad as you guys are reporting we will be lucky not to come away with a right drubbing on Tuesday at Cardiff. |  | |
gosblue added 13:20 - Oct 29
I Enjoyed the day out and the three points. It was also a pleasure to stand up behind the goal for £20. I think the last time I stood up at a game was at Morecombe in the cup and the last time against a league side was at Stockport County. The football (I use the term loosely) was hard to watch. I think half the problem is lack of leadership on the pitch. MM can't really change things from the touch line and I guess no one dare go against his instructions on the pitch. Playing four up front in the first half against that wind in the first half was a joke. Bart couldn't get his kicks anywhere near them and we only had two in midfield. Didz does drop back to hell out but that wasn't enough. The 3 subs, especially Bru, gave us control of midfield which changed the game. | | |
dirtydingusmagee added 14:06 - Oct 29
Mick brings in a decent loan player,a player that is keen to play and do his stuff, a player from top prem team,has shown he can score goals .........Mick the mindless, says he is only good for 10 minutes at the end of a game, and he wont put him on because fans are chanting for him.Just about sums MM up, the problems are not just about Celina, but that is a perfect example of what an arrogant , antagonistic, narrow minded #### McCarthy is. |  | |
shakytown added 16:30 - Oct 29
The worst thing is that there is no game plan or direction for the players. We never play the same players in the same positions twice in a row so how can they be expected to be able to play in a cohesive manner??? Mick just has no idea to build a team anymore and needs to be put out to pasture with the other old hacks. | | |
Gcon added 17:15 - Oct 29
itfc horrid - I presume you are talking about your own hypocritical opinions? Unlike yourself I am really not bothered by achieving plus points for my comments. I make them because I believe in them, not so I appeal to the same ten/fifteen names that have nothing positive to say about this club, most of whom are blatant in the fact they don't attend games but sit at their keyboards berating anybody that disagrees with their toxic views.
And Yes - You are quite right about my views on Brexit. A decision made by old people, daily mail readers and racists influenced by the campaign's lies that will destroy this country for the next generation.
Spanishblood - My comments are based on fact, yours on your own fantasies of us losing games. Please do not refer to yourself as a 'supporter' of this club. It's libellous.
| | |
Dissboyitfc added 18:50 - Oct 29
JimmyJooJarJee added 17:42 - Oct 28
Great character shown today after Sunday's game.
Mick MUST stay at all costs.
Absolutely priceless quote/post... we got a lucky win against a team who deserved more!!!!
MM MUST LEAVE asap!!!!!!!!!! GET OUT!!!!!!!! |  | |
You need to login in order to post your comments
| 
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
