How has the season gone so far for Burton?
Given the pre-season predictions made by many about Burton Albion's chances in their first ever Championship season, the fact that the Brewers are yet to drop into the relegation zone this term is mightily impressive. From the moment their campaign kicked off at Nottingham Forest on 6 August, Albion have shown a real intent to attack. Form has been relatively consistent throughout. Any time a couple of bad results have threatened to plunge them into the bottom three, the Brewers have produced a powerful performance and picked up a vital win to move them back up the table. While they are still waiting to pick up that first victory on the road, they have come mighty close on more than one occasion, with a lack of killer instinct in front of goal and a couple of late goals here and there denying them. Had you offered Albion fans a three-point buffer above the drop zone heading into the second game of December before the season started, they would have taken it. But there is still a sense that the quality the Brewers have shown means they should be better off than they currently are. That is a positive that needs to be built on as they move forward this campaign.
Is this a season where survival is the main aim or are the club/fans looking any higher?
Absolutely. In reaching the Championship for the first time in their history, the Brewers achieved something that would have been beyond anyone at the club’s wildest dreams when they were battling their way up the non-league pyramid during Nigel Clough’s first stint in charge. Now they are in the second flight, though, realism has very much kicked in, and as the management and players continue to assert, they are here to do much more than just make up the numbers. Victories over the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County so far this term are perfect proof. That being said, there is one target that eclipses all other for the Brewers this season – and that is survival. They are doing it so far. If they can maintain that push, survival in the Championship would likely even eclipse their historic back-to-back promotions.
Will results necessarily affect how much Burton fans enjoy the season?
Almost every weekend this season has brought a first ever meeting with a new opposition for Burton Albion. The Brewers fans are ticking off plenty of new away grounds, that's for sure! On top of that, Albion's supporters are fully appreciative of just what is happening this season, how incredible it is that they are battling with former European and Premier League champions. If Clough's side are relegated come May, nothing will be able to take that history away from them. But with them having looked so competitive for the first 19 games of the campaign, the hope among fans is that the Brewers can sustain that for another 27 fixtures.
How do you feel The Brewers have adapted to the Championship?
Performance-wise, the Brewers have adapted remarkably well to a division in which they had never before competed. Only a small handful of the squad that earned Albion promotion from League One had previous experience playing in the Championship, so Clough brought in several players over the summer to offer that second-tier know-how at the Pirelli Stadium. The likes of Ben Turner, Lloyd Dyer, Chris O'Grady, John Brayford and Kyle McFadzean have certainly helped the Brewers to deal with the immensely competitive level of competition, although that is owed as much to the way other names have stood up and raised their quality of performances. Matt Palmer, Lucas Akins and Jon McLaughlin - all regulars this term - were part of the back-to-back promotion sides, while record signing Jackson Irvine is the leading scorer from midfield in his first ever season of English football. The change to a more attacking system - mainly a 3-5-2 - also seems to have aided Albion's adaptation. Rather than sitting back against their capable opponents and trying to frustrate before launching the odd counter-attack, they are taking the game to their rivals. Clough acknowledged that a conservative style of play would likely come unstuck against the standard of strikers and creative players they would meet in the Championship, so they have gone largely in the opposite direction. It is a rarity so far this season to see the Brewers outdone on the 'chances created' count, and such an approach has been at the heart of their most impressive displays, both at home - where 17 of their 22 points have come - and on the road. They have, on occasion, come unstuck late in games, momentary lapses seeing a possible three points or a draw desert them. The ability to see out games is something they will be keen to improve on as the season progresses and will likely prove crucial for them in the lower reaches of the table.
Who are the players to look out for on Saturday?
It is hard to look past leading scorer Jackson Irvine here. The Australian international became Albion's record signing when he joined from Scottish Premiership outfit Ross County in the summer, and, barring an early slip in the 2-1 defeat to Bristol City, he has taken to the Championship with remarkable speed and poise. Used primarily as one of a central midfield three, Irvine is a constant energetic presence in the middle, and his knack of timing late runs into the box has led to several key goals for Albion this term, including in last weekend's 2-1 win over Rotherham United. His first three goals for the club were headers, so while his quality with the ball at his feet around the box cannot be questioned, he also poses a serious threat from set-pieces and wide deliveries. More often than not, the man whipping in from those areas is academy product Matt Palmer. The 21-year-old is another to have made the step up to the second tier look less than imposing. Palmer's role as chief set-piece taker underlines his ability with the dead ball, but it is his vision and array of passing from deep that makes him most crucial to Albion's attacking play. Further up field, striker Chris O'Grady is a vital cog in the Brewers machine. When he is on song, Albion are too. While he is yet to open his account for the club this season, the Brighton loanee is a constant menace for defenders, using his physical presence to open up space for teammates and bring them into the game. His hold-up play with back to goal also fits in with Albion's system, and as Palmer noted at the weekend, his work rarely goes unnoticed by the rest of the team. O'Grady is due to break his duck any match now...
How will Burton look to approach Saturday’s game?
It will be interesting to see whether Clough sticks with the 3-5-2 that has been his formation of choice for the majority of the season or reverts to the 4-4-1-1 that worked in the 1-1 draw at Preston recently. Either way, do not expect Albion to sit back and soak up swathes of Brentford pressure. They tend to race out of the blocks and take control of possession, looking for the early goal that has proven pivotal in their matches throughout the campaign. They are yet to lose after scoring first and are yet to win after conceding first, so it is understandable that they are so eager.
Is Saturday's match one you feel Burton are really targeting to win?
Clough and his players keep saying that, with the quality of Albion's performances on the road this season, that first away win is just around the corner. That will feel like the case before every away game, and the trip to Brentford is no different. Obviously the Bees have hit some rough form over recent weeks, and a win would take the Brewers above them in the table - but they will know the challenge ahead and how capable Brentford are from their performances over recent seasons. Albion's home form is the bedrock of their push for Championship survival this season, with points on the road backing that up. But with a tough run of games against Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Aston Villa following their trip to Griffin Park, a victory on Saturday would be a welcome boost.