Nationwide Conference
21 September 2004

By Iain Dalziel of This is Bees

Burton player-manager Nigel Clough showed great courage as his team put on a tactical performance that his father, the now sadly late, Brian Clough would have been proud of.

The Brewers ended Barnet's impressive unbeaten start to the season with a 3-2 win at Underhill, just over twenty four hours after the death of Clough senior. Yet his son was present and even came on as a substitute for the last ten minutes. Upon his arrival both sets of fans gave him a thoroughly deserved excellent reception.

The game itself was entertaining, although Barnet played way below their potential. The home side did start well however and after fourteen minutes took the lead. Grazioli had already had one goal disallowed for offside, along with a near miss, but once again midfielder Sinclair scored. Getting behind the Albion defence he unleashed a fierce strike into the bottom corner.

However, after the goal Barnet started to look very sloppy and fifteen minutes after taking the lead Burton equalised. The scorer, Talbot, seemed to be in an offside position, but the linesman's flag stayed down and Burton were level. This was the start of a poor performance from the linesman who shortly after allowed Talbot to continue his run, when he was clearly offside. Luckily for the Bees Millard made a good save.

Burton looked the much better of the two sides, but harshly found themselves behind at the break. A late first half goal from the ever improving Liam Hatch restored Barnet's lead and sent them in one up at half time.

Second Half

Although they were leading Barnet still looked no better. However, in the second half they were punished. Burton looked sharper than they had earlier on and showed this. Two goals from first Talbot, his second of the night and then one from Dale Anderson in two minute burst from the Brewers saw them take the lead for the first time. Both times the defending wasn't very good, but it was exactly what Burton deserved against a sloppy Barnet.

The Bees tried desperately to get level, but still looked below par. Fairclough began making changes, first Dwane Lee was replaced by Nicky Bailey, who soon dropped back to defence when Roache came on for Clist. This was shortly after Strevens had been replaced by the pacey Jamaican winger Mark Dobson. Despite these changes Barnet never really caused Burton many problems and ended up constantly giving the ball to Ian Hendon whose high balls into the box were being cleared almost instantly.

Really it wasn't Barnet's night. Except for the first twenty minutes they looked nothing like the side that had recorded six wins on the bounce and Burton totally deserved the points. Fortunately for Barnet both Accrington Stanley and Aldershot failed to win so the Bees remain top. However, they face a real test of character on Saturday when they make the long trip to the North East to face Scarborough.

Iain Dalziel's Man of the Match

Liam Hatch Once again Hatch worked his socks off throughout and refused to give up until the end. He is really improving, starting to become the "Diamond" Barnet's previous manager said he'd become.

Bookings

Barnet

Sinclair (61)
Hatch (65)

Burton Albion

Simpkins (73)

Teams

Barnet

Millard, Hendon, Yakubu, King, Clist (Roache 78), Strevens (Dobson 75), Sinclair, Lee (Bailey 70), Graham, Grazioli, Hatch

Subs not used: Tynan, Lopez

Burton Albion

Crane, Ayres, Austin, Webster, Simpkins, Dudley, Ducros, Kirkwood, Shilton (Crosby 90), Talbot (Hall 77), Anderson (Clough 87)

Subs not used: Wassall, Robinson

Other Reports

BBC

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