Nigel Clough left to rue Burton’s lack of cutting edge after Forest stalemate

Posted Sunday, February 18, 2018 by PA

Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough took the positives from another improved performance despite a goalless draw against 10-man Nottingham Forest stretching their winless run on home soil to 12 games.

Forest had to play for over an hour a man light after Eric Lichaj’s straight red card for a poor challenge on Martin Samuelsen but the Brewers, bottom of the Championship, could not make their advantage count despite having the men from the City Ground on the defensive for the majority of the game.

On-loan West Ham forward Samuelsen went on to have two good chances to win the game although the best chance arguably fell to Darren Bent, who was denied by an excellent block from Forest defender Danny Fox.

“Its disappointing when you get the opportunity to play against 10 men for an hour but the difficulty for us, whether it is against 10 men or 11, is somebody producing that final bit of quality.” Clough said.

“That is all that is missing at the moment for us.”

“Our last three performances have been very good and yielded just two points instead of maybe the six that they deserved.

“Compared to our last home performance here against Reading we have been excellent for the last three games.”

“It gives us something to build on. Everyone else has lost around us, a win would have been nice but we have got another point and that is what we have to focus on.

“We created enough today but we just didn’t get the finish that we wanted. You only need one and we created four or five good opportunities today.”

Forest boss Aitor Karanka disagreed with the decision of referee Andy Davies to send off his full-back but preferred to praise his players for their determination and application.

The visitors’ efforts in keeping a hard-earned clean sheet were particulalry noteworthy after suffering defensive injuries to both Joe Worrall and Michael Mancienne in the build up to the game.

“I didn’t think it was a sending off but I don’t think that today is a day to complain” Karanka said.

“I am proud of the team, especially after our last performance at home when we showed that we weren’t at our best and showed a lack of confidence.

“Today, even with 10 men, the team has done really well. It is a day to be pleased because it gives us a good step for the future.

“With the injury to Worrall and Mancienne at the last moment I have had to change practically everything this week.”

“Today is a point that maybe, people who have not seen the game think is not a good point, but for me, the effort and the performance of the players has been really good.”