Burton vs Rotherham will go to penalties
Teams are expected to struggle to adapt after parting company with a long-serving manager, so naturally it was assumed that Burton Albion's progress would be halted when Nigel Clough ended his over ten-year association with the club to take charge of Derby in January 2009.
It looked like that could be the case when, having led the Blue Square Premier by 13 points at the time of his departure, Burton stumbled over the finishing line on the final day under Roy McFarland. However, they made a brave decision ahead of their Football League debut to put faith in another rookie, Paul Peschisolido, and the appointment has proven inspired.
The Canadian, also famous for being Mr Karren Brady, guided them to 13th place last season and ten games into this campaign they are tenth, a point off the play-offs. The Brewers are unbeaten at home too, so won't fear the visit of third-placed Rotherham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tonight.
The competition is probably one of the very few areas that Pesch will be targeting an improvement in, as their only previous match in it, against Chesterfield at the Pirelli Stadium last September, ended in a dreadful 5-1 defeat.
The draw hasn't exactly been kind to them, as last year's League Two play-off finalists Rotherham have lost just one of their last 11 encounters against fourth-tier opposition. Burton heroically earned a point at the Don Valley from 3-0 down last month though and they should hold them again at [3.6].
Any Johnstone's Paint Trophy ties that are level after 90 minutes - as three of both Burton and Rotherham's last five outings have been - head straight to penalties and with 47-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Poole starting for the hosts, the stage is set for the ageing shot-stopper to star in the shootout.
Disagree with our draw shout? Burton are [2.6] to triumph, with Rotherham [2.92]...
Published: 6 Oct 2010
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