Bolton Wanderers boss calls on side to 'compete' at Burton

Gary Bowyer’s Brewers recorded a shock 1-0 win against fancied Cardiff City a couple of weeks ago and have also taken points off Huddersfield Town, which points towards an opponent who continually punch above their financial weight.

Bolton recorded their first-ever win at Burton in March and Steven Schumacher hopes to replicate some of the positive aspects of that performance as they return to the Pirelli Stadium looking for a result which could propel them into the top six.

“I remember preparing for that game last season and focussing on where we thought the space would be because it is quite a tight pitch and at that time of the year it was also quite a bobbly one, so it wasn’t easy to play on,” he recalled.

“But we went there and, most importantly, competed with Burton, which is what you need to do.

“They are direct in their play, they are good from set plays, they have long throws which will come into the penalty box and you have to stand up to those challenges. We did that last year and it’ll be exactly the same again.

“I think they have played a bit more football at home, they have had a bit more possession on average, so that might come into our thinking, but we’ll go there and try to do what we need to get three points.”

Gary Bowyer led Burton to a remarkable dash for safety in the final 10 games that proceeded Bolton’s visit last season, and Schumacher expects his experienced opposite number to once again make his side hard to beat.

“Gary is one of the most experienced coaches in the league and has his team set up really well,” he told The Bolton News. “They are really well organised, has them doing all the basics, so that's what you have to match.

“You can't go there and think you can just turn up and play your football, it's not like that. You have to do the other side of the game if you're going to get anything from it.”

The result at Cardiff, earned by Charlie Webster’s late goal, was singled out by Schumacher as conclusive evidence that his players have to be focussed.

“When people say, this is a banker of a result, or this is a foregone conclusion, it's just not like that, ever,” he said.

“Burton fought tooth and nail for everything they got against Cardiff, and managed to get the three points, which shows the strength they had.

“They went to Huddersfield a couple of weeks before and got a draw there, went away to Doncaster, who have been going really well and got a point there, so it won't be an easy game, for sure.”

Wanderers have not won away from home in their first five outings this season but face Burton, followed by a Thursday night trip to Huddersfield, with Schumacher in confident mood that the statistic will soon be changed.

“As I have said before I think we have played well enough in all those games to go ahead, and in a few to have won those games,” he said.

“But bottom line is we haven’t managed to do that, so that is the next thing, we need to tick off that away victory.”

Click here to read article