Burton Albion

    • 20th in English League One

    Burton Albion

    SOCCER

      Jobi McAnuff explains why Black managers are overlooked

      • 4Y

        Burton relegated as Preston miss out on play-offs despite late winner

        Burton were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship after a 2-1 defeat at Preston, who missed out on a play-off spot.Louis Moult won it in added time for 10-man Preston, who finished seventh after Derby secured the final play-off place thanks to victory over Barnsley, with the Yorkshire club joining Burton in the bottom three.Hope Akpan had equalised midway through the second half for Burton, which cancelled out Callum Robinson's opener.At that stage the Brewers were staying up, but they were left needing a late winner after Bolton scored two quick-fire goals to beat Nottingham Forest. Instead Moult tucked home on the break at the other end.It was an even opening to a game that Preston knew was must-win, but news soon filtered through that Derby had taken the lead against Barnsley. That result would end Preston's play-off hopes but they set about keeping up their end of the bargain as Robinson was denied one-on-one by Stephen Bywater after 25 minutes.But the forward responded a minute later by putting Preston ahead. Josh Harrop's corner was met by Paul Huntington, whose header back across goal found Robinson four yards out to nod in the opener.It should have been two after 33 minutes as Robinson squared for Sean Maguire who fired off the underside of the crossbar from six yards.Preston were dominant and thought they had doubled their advantage three minutes later when Billy Bodin turned a cross into the net, but the referee and linesman ruled he had done so with his hand - and showed the Wales international a yellow card.It was to prove a nightmare day for Bodin as he was sent off five minutes after the break, picking up his second booking for simulation.That lifted Burton spirits as Luke Murphy broke through midfield and unleashed a shot, but one that was comfortable for Declan Rudd in the Preston goal.And Nigel Clough's side came even closer on the hour mark through Liam Boyce, whose near-post header drifted just wide.Three minutes later though came the goal that looked like it could secure Burton's safety. The ball broke to Akpan who curled a stunning finish into the top corner from 20 yards.Ten-man Preston rallied, coming close in the 74th minute when Paul Gallagher's shot was pushed wide by Bywater before Tom Clarke headed just wide from the resulting corner.And they sealed the win which broke Burton hearts three minutes into added time. North End hit the Brewers - who had entered all-out attack mode - on the counter and Ben Pearson squared for Moult to tap the winner into an empty net.
        • 7Y
        • PA Sport

          Burton secure vital victory over fellow relegation-battlers Bolton

          First-half goals from Hope Akpan and Lucas Akins gave Burton hope of avoiding relegation from the Sky Bet Championship and dragged Bolton deep into the trouble at the foot of the table.Albion had never before won three games in a row in the Championship but they rarely looked in any serious danger after Akpan's first of the season and Akins' predatory finish put them in control.And Burton held on to win 2-0 and move up to 22nd, level on points with Barnsley in 21st. Bolton, meanwhile, drop to 23rd.After being on the back foot for much of the early stages of the game it was Akpan who chose the perfect moment to bag his first goal in a Burton shirt on 28 minutes.The excellent hold-up play of Liam Boyce created the chance as he brought the ball under control inside the box, allowing Akpan to run beyond him and smash a rising shot into the top corner.It was a blow to the visitors, who had been the better side with Adam Le Fondre sending a dipping volley over the bar and Darren Pratley only beaten to a Karl Henry cross by a timely intervention from Jacob Davenport deep inside his own six-yard box.Akpan also had a hand in Albion's second goal on 36 minutes as Nigel Clough's men pressed home their advantage.The former Blackburn midfielder had two bites of the cherry as he looked to double his tally for the afternoon but his second effort fell kindly for Akins who was able to prod the ball past Ben Alnwick to give the Brewers daylight against their struggling visitors.Former Bolton striker Marvin Sordell almost rubbed salt into the Trotters wounds on the stroke of half-time with a rising drive that just missed the target after more good approach play from Boyce.Bolton had to change things around and the introduction of Filipe Morais and Will Buckley injected some life into the Trotters, with Buckley seeing an early opportunity deflected for a corner and Morais whipping a dangerous free-kick just wide of the post just after the hour mark.However, after finding themselves on the ropes in the second half exchanges, it was Boyce who went close to wrapping things up for Albion, Alnwick producing an excellent save to deny him from a tight angle.The Bolton keeper also kept his side in the game with a fine save from Sordell who was played in by Luke Murphy and the on-loan Leeds midfielder also squandered a glorious chance to make it three after Boyce led a swift counter-attack with Bolton caught pushing forwards.Alnwick produced more heroics to deny Boyce with a superb one-handed save late on but it came too late to prevent Bolton from being dragged right into the relegation mire.
          • 7Y
          • PA Sport

            Burton's late double means Sunderland are relegated

            Sunderland have been relegated to the third tier of English football for only the second time in the club's history after losing a dramatic relegation battle with Burton 2-1.Paddy McNair gave the Black Cats the lead 11 minutes before the break - but two goals in the last four minutes relegated the Black Cats and moved Burton to within two points of safety.Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent came off the bench and headed in the equaliser, before Liam Boyce nodded the winner deep into added-time.There was more drama seconds later when McNair had an equaliser ruled out for handball by the referee's assistant, even though the man in the middle Darren England had given the goal at first.Sunderland headed into the game on the back of three spirited displays, all draws - but both teams knew a victory was essential to keep their slim chances of survival alive.Burton did not start the game in the sort of manner that saw them defeat neighbours Derby in their previous outing, allowing the home side more time on the ball.Despite Sunderland's more positive start there was a lack of threat posed to the goalkeepers and apart from McNair's opening goal there were no serious saves to make.Jason Steele, back in between the posts after Lee Camp was left out, held everything that came his way and was in the way of a couple of efforts that were driven into him.Stephen Bywater, at the opposite end, could not do the same. Even though he did dive left to gather a McNair strike after Callum McManaman's touch earlier in the half, the goalkeeper got his positioning wrong for the next.Ashley Fletcher did well to cut inside from the left and dribble beyond a couple of players. Just when it seemed he would be stopped, he poked a pass in the direction of McNair - who drilled low from 20 yards into the centre of Bywater's net.Burton had the greater share of possession after the restart and pressed in the hope of finding an equaliser but they still lacked a cutting edge.The nearest they came in the early stages of the half was when Lucas Akins' delivery from the right caught out Sunderland's defenders but they did enough to clear.Steele turned away a Jacob Davenport free-kick with 20 minutes remaining and that led to a tense finale when the stage was set for Bent.The experienced striker, booed throughout after he was introduced, headed over the line from close range after Steele - who also saved another volley from the former England striker - had done well to save Hope Akpan's long range strike.Then Burton turned the game completely on its head when Boyce glanced in the winner deep into stoppage-time.There was still time for McNair to have an equaliser ruled out for handball - and the final whistle soon after confirmed Sunderland's relegation.
            • 7Y
            • PA Sport
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            2024-25 EFL League One Ladder

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            2024-25 Team Leaders

            English League One

            18

            Rumarn BurrellF #18

            11
            Matches30
            Assists2
            8

            Charlie WebsterM #8

            5
            Matches32
            Assists0
            10

            Jón BödvarssonF #10

            5
            Matches17
            Assists1

            Rankings

            English League One

            Goal Difference
            -17
            19th
            Goals Scored
            49
            Tied-17th
            Assists
            34
            18th
            Goals Conceded
            66
            Tied-15th
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