Burton Albion

Striker Clare needs ankle surgery
Burton Albion striker Daryl Clare is to undergo surgery next month to clear up a persistent ankle problem. Clare, who has scored 11 goals this season, will have an operation to remove fragments of floating bone. Burton hope the procedure will not force Clare to miss any Blue Square Premier games as they pursue promotion. If all goes according to plan, Clare, 29, will be absent for about a fortnight and be unavailable for games in the FA Trophy and Setanta Shield.

Boss impressed by Albion response
Burton boss Nigel Clough was impressed with his team's response to going a goal behind against Forest Green. "In the second half we were a bit more like our normal selves," Clough told BBC Radio Derby after the 1-1 draw. "We put them under pressure and were forcing the game and I don't think Saul Deeney (goalkeeper) had one shot to save after the break. "We're showing a lot of character to come back but it'd nice to be 1-0 up for a change and let teams come at us."

We were equal to Bees - Clough
Burton manager Nigel Clough thought there was nothing between Albion and Barnet after suffering late FA Cup heartbreak in the second round replay. Adam Birchall scored with seven minutes left to set up a tie with Swindon. Clough told SSB: "There was nothing in it at all, half a mistake at the near post by Andy Corbett from the corner and we get punished. "But we had a couple of good chances, it was a very even game. We thought we were probably going into extra time."

Burton chairman defends Rangemore
Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson has told SSB the FA should not move the National Football Centre out of the Midlands. The FA's preferred option is for the centre to be built at Rangemore but it has not ruled out basing it elsewhere. Robinson said: "Rangemore is central to the country and the cost would be less (than moving it to near London). "If they do move it, the value of the land left is about five million which will mean a £20m loss." Robinson added: "Crazy money was spent on building Wembley and there was a voice of opinion then that said it should have been moved to the Midlands."

Clough searching for new striker
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough said he hopes to add a new striker to his squad in the January transfer window. A Jake Edwards brace contributed to the 3-0 win over Stafford Rangers on Wednesday, but Clough still feels the need for more firepower. "We still think we need another striker," Clough told BBC Radio Derby. "There will be periods when they get tired, out of form or take a knock, so it would be nice to have someone as back-up, or even on loan for a month."

Clough cautious after latest win
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough said he is not thinking about promotion despite the thumping 4-1 win over Northwich - their fourth victory in a row. "It's good form but I don't know if it's good enough for promotion," Clough told SSB. "In the second half we played some excellent stuff and apart from the lapse which let them back in at 2-1, it was a very accomplished performance. "We've still got 20 league games to go. That's nearly half a season." Clough, whose side are in fourth spot in the Blue Square Premier, added: "There are a lot of points to play for. We're just delighted at how we're doing at the moment but we know how quickly it can change."

Clough keen on Tigers midfielder
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough hopes to sign Hull's Nicky Featherstone on loan before next weekend's Blue Square Premier fixture against Woking. The loan market opens on Friday and Clough is eager to add to his squad. Clough said the 19-year-old would be a great addition: "He can play midfield, wide and up front so we are going to do everything we can to get him in." Meanwhile, Clough will be without midfielder Michael Simpson who faces two weeks out with a hamstring injury. Simpson was injured in the 1-1 FA Trophy draw with Histon on Saturday. The Brewers meet Histon again in Tuesday's replay and Clough says his side will have to play better if they want to progress. "It was very lacklustre," Clough told BBC Radio Derby. "But it was that sort of day where you hope you can nick a 1-0 and get away with a poor performance. "But it wasn't to be and we probably didn't deserve it overall."

Clough sees room for improvement
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough admitted his side did not have things all their own way in the apparently routine win over struggling Droylsden. Daryl Clare scored twice in the opening quarter of the match and the Brewers went on to win 3-0. But Clough told SSB: "They looked dangerous. Kevin Poole made an excellent save before the first goal. "There wasn't much between the teams in the first 20 minutes - just a little bit of better finishing." The visitors were reduced to 10 men when Lee Roche was sent off for a second caution. But Clough felt his side should have made more of their one-man advantage. "We had a lot of possession in the second half and should have done a little bit better with it," he added.

Clough looking for loan striker
Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough is looking to delve into the loan market to increase competition for places up front during the promotion run-in. "We have been trying to bring in a striker to help for the last 10 matches," Clough told SSB. "We only have the three recognised strikers in Shaun Harrad, Jake Edwards and Daryl Clare. "And I wouldn't say any of them are in sparkling form at the moment so a fresh face just might help."

Clough praises new boy Williams
Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough was delighted with Matthew Williams' goalscoring debut in the 1-0 victory at Farsley Celtic on Easter Monday. Striker Williams has joined on loan until the end of the season from Conference North side Tamworth. And the 26-year-old former Manchester United youth product impressed Clough with his all-round contribution. "His overall play was very good, he looked lively and was the best striker we had," Clough told SSB. Interview: Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough It was the Brewers' second 1-0 win over the Easter weekend, having already beaten Crawley at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday. "It's been a struggle over the two games but we dug in defensively and that's been the basis for the six points," Clough added.

Brewers complete Buxton signing
Burton Albion have completed the signing of former Mansfield Town captain Jake Buxton, but he will miss the start of the season. The central defender cannot play in the Brewers' opening three matches after picking up a red card in his final league game for the Stags. The 23-year-old joined Albion on a free transfer after leaving Mansfield after their relegation from League Two. Buxton has already appeared in two pre-season matches for the Brewers. He had hoped to stay in the Football League but a trial spell with Crewe Alexandra proved unsuccessful.

Buxton not bitter towards Stags
Burton Albion defender Jake Buxton says there is no bitterness between him and former club Mansfield as the Brewers prepare to host the Stags on Monday. He told Radio Derby: "I've had a lot of fond times there and a lot of good years. "It's great for Mansfield that they've got things sorted and decent people in charge, so hopefully they can push on." The 23-year-old joined the Brewers on a free transfer having left Mansfield after their relegation from League Two.

Ex-Ram Morris signs Burton deal
Former Derby County striker Lee Morris has signed for Burton Albion until the end of the season. The 28-year-old, who has been recovering from injury, joined the Brewers for pre-season training. He signed the deal with the Blue Square Premier club after making his first league start of the season in the 1-0 home win over Mansfield on Monday. Morris has also had spells at Huddersfield Town, Leicester City, Yeovil Town and Sheffield United. Yeovil were his last club, and he left Huish Park by mutual consent in March after failing to recover from a second cruciate ligament injury.

Stride aims to avoid nervy finale
Burton Albion skipper Darren Stride says the players are desperate to avoid a frantic final day of the season by sealing promotion against Oxford. The Brewers will clinch the Blue Square Premier title and book a place in the Football League if they can secure at least a draw on Friday evening. A six-point lead means they can go up even if they lose their last two games. But Stride told Radio Derby: "The last thing we want is it going down to the last game at Torquay." He added: "It is the biggest game we are ever going to have - we have to make sure the result is right. "This is the accumulation of eight months of very hard work and to not achieve what we set out to achieve would be a disaster." And Stride says Saturday's failure to hold onto their one-goal lead against Kidderminster was a huge disappointment. "It would have been great to get it out of the way at Kidderminster," he said. "We can't rely on people messing it up for us. We should be going out there winning the league - that's what we are capable of doing." Second-placed Cambridge United are the only side that can deny Burton promotion. But that would mean the U's taking maximum points from their final two matches, the Brewers losing their next two games and a goal difference of minus six being overturned.

Branston desperate to earn recall
Burton Albion defender Guy Branston is desperate to force his way back into the Brewers' starting line-up after missing the last two games. Branston has served a one-match ban following a professional foul in the defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge. And a solid display by his replacement Darren Stride saw Branston left out for the midweek game against Macclesfield. "I was a bit frustrated missing Tuesday," Branston told BBC Radio Derby. "I'm a terrible spectator." Branston had been an ever-present in the Burton line-up until the suspension. But he must now wait to see if he will be recalled for Sunday's home date with high-flying Rochdale (1500 BST, 4 October), one of his 14 former clubs. He spent seven weeks on loan at Spotland two seasons ago, while he was still on Peterborough United's books. Burton might be Branston's 15th club, but the 30-year-old Leicester-born defender thinks he has at last found a club at which he wants to settle down. "I've finally found a place I can definitely call home," added Branston. "It's nice to be part of a club that wants to go forward."

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