Albion boss: We must ask more questions in attack

Burton Albion must start asking more questions of the opposition when they get to the attacking third, says manager Dino Maamria ahead of Saturday’s away League One game against Reading (3pm). Overall, the Brewers boss remains optimistic about his team’s evolving style of play and, of course, they have had injuries among the forwards all season so far.

But with all that taken into account, Maamria wants to see better decision-making both from those tasked with creating chances and those aiming to take them. He liked much of what they did going forward against Everton Under-21s in Tuesday’s 2-0 win in the EFL Trophy but still did not think they troubled the young Toffees’ defence enough.

“We played some brilliant football on Tuesday but when we get to the attacking third, we don’t ask enough questions of the opposition,” said Maamria. “We might dominate possession but when you look at the shots and chances created, there are barely any, so you’re thinking ‘hey guys, we’re playing football to create and score goals, because that’s what the fans turn up for.’ The players are an honest bunch who need working with and I believe we are on the right track to score more goals.”

Victory over Everton’s youngsters was expected – they had already lost to Doncaster Rovers – but while the game was a good exercise for the Brewers, Maamria says they were also in a no-win situation: “Those games, if you lose it’s a disaster, if you win, you get no credit for it,” he said. “For us it was about the performance, which I thought was very good, especially in the first half. We made a few changes, which were positive. I thought it was important to freshen the front three and to have Jamal Blackman in goal but I kept the back four and midfield three, who are the spine of the team.”

He gave starts to Josh Gordon and Josh Walker, both of whom have had injuries early in the season and have yet to score so far in this campaign. As a former striker, Maamria sympathises: “Forwards already have expectations when they sign for clubs, it’s expected that they will score goals,” he said. “We don’t say that about goalkeepers, full-backs or centre midfielders. It’s been really unfortunate that they both got injured after having brilliant pre-seasons. They did not get going.

Mason Bennett made a goalscoring return from injury for Burton Albion. (Image: Richard Burley/ Epic Action Imagery)

“I thought they were both excellent in midweek even though they didn’t score. They are on the right track to get back to their best. And I have no doubt that Josh Walker is a better player than when he first came to us and he played his first 90 minutes of the season against Everton, which was good.”

Maamria also sympathises with Reading’s plight. They face another possible points deduction if wages are not paid on time and might be subject to a transfer embargo. There are likely to be protests from supporters against owner Dai Yongge once more on Saturday. But Maamria says that does not mean they are not a strong team on the pitch.

“Reading is not going to be an easy game because they still have some top Championship players,” he said. “It will be a kind of strange atmosphere and I feel really sorry for Reading. They are a really good club with a brilliant fan base. Every time I’ve been there, it’s a really attractive place. They had a brilliant time in the past, in the Premier League, with some great managers. Right now they have a good manager, really good players and it’s unfortunate for them what is happening off the pitch.

“They’ve gone through a lot and if anything it makes us at Burton appreciate what our chairman has done for the club, making sure we live by our means and try to over-achieve with what we have, to recruit smart and play smart. Derby County had the same problems. I’m glad – and I think our supporters are – that we aren’t that type of club. I know that sometimes we want everything, the big budget, the best players in the league, to be pushing for promotion but we have to play the long-term game, to recruit accordingly, developing those we recruit and, sometimes, selling a few as well.”

Maamria also gave an update on injuries…

Burton Albion could have defender Jasper Moon back in contention to play in another two weeks after he suffered an ankle ligament injury last week against Fleetwood Town. It was a worrying sign for the already injury-hit Brewers when Moon, a key signing from Barnsley this summer, limped off after half-an-hour in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw.

He had already been sidelined by a thigh issue picked up in the season’s first game, although he had had an injury-free career up to this season. Moon was seen in a surgical boot and on crutches after the game, heightening fears, but it now seems that was a precaution.

“With Jasper, it’s his ankle. He twisted it when his foot got stuck in the grass and he might be a couple of weeks minimum now,” said manager Dino Maamria. “It’s not something that will keep him out for months.”