Clough praises defending as 10-man Burton hold Gillingham - 7M sport

Clough praises defending as 10-man Burton hold Gillingham



Posted Sunday, February 09, 2020 by PA

Clough praises defending as 10-man Burton hold Gillingham

Burton boss Nigel Clough was thankful for his team’s stubborn defence as the 10-man Brewers held out for a point from a goalless draw with Gillingham after forward Oliver Sarkic was sent off midway through the second half for a second bookable offence.

The Gills, who have now drawn 11 of their away League One games this season, kept trying to force a winner with Tom O’Connor going closest with a stoppage-time drive that smacked against the crossbar but it was a day when defences held the upper hand and Albion’s back four made sure that Steve Evans’ side only returned to Kent with a point.

“In the circumstances we were looking for three points coming into the game but taking everything into consideration today it’s a good point and a good clean sheet,” said Clough after a frustrating afternoon for his side.

“It keeps our little run going now with just one defeat in eight which is brilliant at this level. A few draws in there and we need to turn one of those into a win.”

Clough had some sympathy with Sarkic after his red card but understood referee Alan Young’s decision to send his young striker off.

“I think Oliver is a little bit unlucky because there is certainly no malice in any of his challenges,” observed the Brewers boss.

“The second one if he nicks the ball he is half clear. Their lad had slightly miscontrolled it and Oli is very close to getting away with the ball. You understand why referees give them these days.

“They are clamping down when people cross the ball and if you catch them late, and rightly so, and we heard the contact from where we were for the first yellow card.”

For Gillingham boss Evans it was a game where he felt that the full three points should have gone his side’s way and criticised his players’ decision making when in good areas after feeling that they had dominated the game.

Evans said: “I am frustrated. We dominated the game from start to finish and had three or four good opportunities but never took them. Their goalkeeper has made two or three great saves and without doubt it’s two points left behind.

“We go back on the long trip back to Kent disappointed for ourselves and for our brilliant support.

“The decision making in the final third wasn’t what it should have been and that is probably why we are where we are in the table rather than in the top six.”

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