When we last played Burton just before Christmas they looked dead and buried, sunk without a trace, and even the most ardent Albion fan could not see anything other than relegation on the cards.
Those scrapping at the bottom, ourselves included, must have thought they could rely on Albion taking one of the relegation spots, oh how things have changed, and it’s certainly not a good time to play them as JFH in charge since January has them flying, and in recent weeks they have dispatched Hull City, Charlton, and Peterborough and on Tuesday earned a respectable draw at in form Blackpool,
That night in December was one of just three matches that allowed fans into SMK, and although we once again dominated possession we found ourselves behind for the majority of the game and only drew level when Scott Fraser converted from the spot after Carlton Morris had been fouled in the box, and its worrying to note even with 70% of the ball we still allowed Burton 18 shots.
BURTON ALBION – SEASON 2020/21 Burton are currently in 18th place in the league table with a playing record of PLAYED 34, WON 11, DRAWN 8, LOST 15, GF 44 & GA 57 and 41 points to their name.
FORM AT A GLANCE – WWWWWWD
LEAGUE RESULTS 2020/21
Burton 2 Peterborough 1
Burton 1 Bristol Rovers 0
Burton 0 Sunderland 3
Burton 1 Hull 0
Burton 0 Ipswich 1
Burton 1 Oxford 5
Burton 3 Wigan 4
Burton 1 Doncaster 3
Burton 1 Crewe 1
Burton 4 Charlton 2
Burton 1 Northampton 3
Burton 1 Blackpool 2
Burton 1 AFCW 1
Burton 0 Rochdale 1
Burton 2 Portsmouth 4
Burton 2 Accrington 1
Home record of PLAYED 16, WON 5, DRAWN 2, LOST 9, GF 21 & GA 32.
YEAR FORMED – 1950
CLUB NICKNAME – The Brewers
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE – 3,350
THE MANAGER – Jerrel “Jimmy” Floyd Hasselbaink aged 45 years and born in Paramaribo, Surinam.
He started his playing career as a striker back in 1984, breaking into first team football some 6 years later with Telstar in Holland. He went onto play for AZ, Campomaiorense, Boavista, Leeds Utd, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Charlton and finally Cardiff, hanging up his boots in 2008.
He played 591 times scoring 251 goals, and some 23 International games for the Netherlands scoring 9 goals.
In 2013, he became the manager of Royal Antwerp (Turned down new deal), then Burton Albion (Walked when top of LG 1), QPR (Sacked), Northampton on a three-year deal, and was sacked with a year left on his contract after the Cobblers failed to win in 9 games.
After 3 years in the wilderness he has returned to Burton Albion like the prodigal son, becoming permanent manager on New Years Day 2021. His managerial record stands at GAMES 188, WON 77, DRAWN 53, LOST 88, that’s a 41.0%-win ratio.
PLAYED FOR BOTH – On the conveyer belt tonight we have, Jason Banton, Devante Cole, Zeli Ismail, Tom Flanagan, Lloyd Dyer, Scott Fraser, Joe Mason and of course Kyle McFadzean.
FORMER MANAGERS – Nigel Clough, Vic Halom, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Roy McFarland, Paul Peschisolido, Gary Rowett, Ian Storey-Moore, Peter Taylor, and Neil Warnock.
MATCHDAY MASCOT – Billy and Betty the Brewers, don’t look into their eyes.
BEST INTERNET MATCH ODDS – BURTON 9/5 DRAW 28/11 MK DONS 13/8
SHOOTERS BOOTS – Kane Hemmings with 13 goals.
FAMOUS FAN – Some say he can name every single starting XI from Burton Albion’s inaugural season in 1950/51. All we know is he’s called the Stig of Top Gear fame – and he’s a big Brewers fan.
LAST TIME ROUND – 12TH Dec 2020 – MK Dons 1 Burton 1
Team – Fisher, O’Hora, Keogh, Lewington, Williams, Surman (Sorenson), Kasumu, Fraser, Gladwin (Harvie), Morris, Jerome (Walker).
Unused Subs – Nicholls, Poole, Cargill, Agard.
Goal – Daniel 8’, Fraser 73’.
Referee – Graham Salisbury (2 Yellows)
Attendance – 2,000
HEAD 2 HEAD
2020/21 – MK Dons 1 Burton 1 (Fraser)
2019/20 – Burton 1 MK Dons 0
2019/20 – MK Dons 0 Burton 3
