Ouch! We’re not sure what’s more painful – somehow letting the Daggers walk off with all three points or seeing your skipper providing (quite literally) a finger buffet for someone who didn’t have his halftime orange. Or his morning Weetabix. Neither were quite what we were expecting from last weekend’s action at the Lamex, but that’s life and that’s what people say it is.
The all-powerful and all-knowing FA have taken charge and are currently dithering over which book to throw at Joss Labadie. We recommend Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals, but it’s more likely going to be the FA’s own Guide to Disciplinary Measures – a publication that looks remarkably similar to the back of a fag packet with half a dozen chief executive names scribbled out.
Let it never be said we can’t at least try some satire.
On to Burton Albion, then, and you might well have seen that we’re facing a blank weekend; shunted as we have been so very graciously to Monday evening. That’s right – that stockpile of work you sacked off on Friday to get your weekend underway is there waiting for you still, and then you have to travel up to Burton-on-upon-and-indeed-over-Trent. Ach!
The simple logic suggests that a home defeat versus the Daggers won’t set you up for a trip to the league leaders; a team that’s won four on the spin, even if two of those vanquished foes are competing for a place in the GM Vauxhall Conference. This is a team that’s top of the division, although curiously only have the second best form either home or away. How’s that work?
Burton Albion have lost three at home all term, but two of those have come in the last six outings played at the Pirelli. Yes, it’s well known that our away form leaves a bit to be desired – but Boro’ are made for these type of games. You could see it over at Shrewsbury, and you can bet you’ll see it again. We just need to put Dagenham and Redbridge to the backs of our minds…
…which is more a cue for life than anything specific to last weekend’s football.
It’s not something that we can read too much into, but we are on a run of four successive wins against Monday’s opponents – though a 2-0 win at their place back in 2011 was our first ever at the Pirelli Stadium. It was the fifth crack at doing so, with a 3-0 romp at Eton Park in December 2004 the last time we took anything from our travels to their neck of the woods.
Of course, the Brewers’ lofty league placing has got the bookies siding with them – you’ll be lucky to get as rewarding a price as 21/20 (Bet 365) on a home win. But this means the rewards will be with you sooner than heaven if you side with an away win and Boro’ pull it off, with 13/5 your best option. And Lucas Akins to score? Yeah, well, 13/5 (Bet Victor) says he will.
GW ain’t a man to be panicked and changes will be few and far between we reckon. Chris Whelpdale might pop up in place of Dave Martin and we could be left sweating on the dangling digit of Ronnie Henry, but we’re OK really. We made an oopsie last weekend, but these things happen. Luton Town are still only one point ahead of us and have to play their games in Luton…
Burton Albion’s BoroGuide club profile – refreshes the parts that other Burton Albion club profiles can’t…
