Bolton 1-0 Burton

Happy New Year everyone!

First up in 2024 is Burton Albion.

Now if this really is our promotion year we need to dispatch teams like Burton easily - but will we?

Of course we should do and if the players haven't over done it with the Christmas puddings, eggnog and mince pies, we really should.

However Jones is off to the Asia Cup so there will be team changes for this match.

So what thoughts have you for the selection team today and more importantly - the result?

Happy New Year!
Thinking and hoping for a comfortable 3-0 victory today. Dion to increase his goal tally and no doubt Thomason will get booked

Interim manager Gary Mills ahs done a good job in the 4 games since Maamria left - got battered away at Oxford in the first game but since then managed a draw and two wins including beating a resurgent Blackpool - which has pulled them 7 points clear of the relegation zone.
Burton fans' main criticism of Maamria was that he over complicated things, so Mills has "gone back to basics" - and doing the basics well is what we can expect from Burton.
I imagine we'll dominate possession and face our usual problem of breaking down a solid "no nonsense" defence whilst they attack on the counter with their 3 quick forwards.
Mills has cut down on playing out from the back so I imagine they'll try to exploit the space behind our wide men and there may well be a few long balls.
The better teams in the league were taking them apart earlier in the season as Maamria's style gave opposition more chance of nicking it in the high press in their end of the park - but Mills has worked on cutting that out - working on the principle that we can't score if the ball's in our half - and so far it appears to be working.
Realistically, if we play well and take our chances we should win easily, but their new system means we might have to change our approach slightly as Dion and Vic will be chasing shadows as the ball is hoofed down our wings more than they're used to.
Hopefully we've prepared well for this and will have all the answers.

Definitely one of those games where you’d expect us to win but Burton are no mugs and have started something of a good run under Mills so they will certainly be confident of getting something. With no game next week whilst others around us have, we certainly need the win if we’re not to be dragged back into the pack again so let’s hope the bots can do it and potentially see us top of the table?

The goal -

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Didn't go the game, watched it on Wanderers TV and it was a grind really. We had plenty of the ball but didn't look like we were going to score until the own goal.

As for Burton, what a negative side they are! Wasted time right from the start of the game.

Another solid two halves of football IMO.  When we do that there are not many teams who can live with us. Could have been 4 or 5 with some better finishing. As I always say if you pound their goal with shots and crosses you will create a deflection or penalty etc. and that's' what happened.
Next two games are distractions - just hope nobody gets injured before the next league game.
COYWM

Norpig wrote:Didn't go the game, watched it on Wanderers TV and it was a grind really. We had plenty of the ball but didn't look like we were going to score until the own goal.

As for Burton, what a negative side they are! Wasted time right from the start of the game.

The guys were celebrating the new year too. So they weren't too keen on running. The alcohol in their blood streams didn't allow