United 2 Burton Albion 3
Match Sponsor: LIL'S LOT
Match Ball Sponsor: THE McKENNA FAMILY
Man of the Match: CHRIS HARGREAVES
United let a two goal lead slip at Plainmoor against a Burton Albion side that certainly came to have a go and ultimately deserved the three points in this League 2 encounter.
There was one change for United with Wayne Carlisle missing out through injury and Elliot Benyon coming in to replace him in an otherwise unchanged line-up. New signings Eunan O'Kane and Sam Cox were on the bench primed for a home debut and first appearance respectively.
Burton started the brighter of the two teams but it was United who took the lead in the eighth minute; a short period of pressure from the Gulls finished with skipper Chris Hargreaves slipping the ball wide to Chris Zebroski who chipped the ball to the far post where Scott Rendell had gambled and was perfectly placed to head home from four yards.
It was a slightly disjointed beginning to the match by United and Burton looked a little sharper in certain areas but seven minutes after scoring the opener United doubled their lead. A deep corner from Jake Thomson was retrieved by Chris Zebroski who slipped the ball back down the line to Adam Smith. The Spurs loanee skipped past a couple of tackles and from the edge of the area hit a low shot that was poked in from eight yards by Chris Robertson. United were lucky to be two goals up but you'll take anything that's given at this level.
46 year old Kevin Poole in the Burton goal was then tested by Rendell who got in again at the far post with a header but this time the experienced Poole saved well and gathered the ball to end the danger. United weren't dominating but they were creating the better attacking opportunities.
The midfield battle was proving competitive and Chris Hargreaves was giving his usual all-effort performance but neither he or his team mates could stop the visitors pulling a goal back just after the half hour mark. Penn collected the ball in central midfield and drove forward toward the United goal before beating Poke from 22 yards with a fine strike. The goal came out of nothing but it was probably deserved on the first half hour of play.
It was a muted performance by United in the first half but they had a precious lead and any upturn in their levels would have given them a great chance for all three points.
At the start of the second half Jake Thomson looked bright down the right wing but it wasn't happening enough to cause the visitors major difficulties. Burton were beginning to look far more dangerous in attack than the Gulls and in the 56th minute the scores were level after Harrad shielded the ball well but was then allowed to turn and beat Michael Poke with a strong shot from 20 yards. It was a kick in the guts for United and they wobbled for a while.
Danny Stevens was introduced in place of Elliot Benyon but the next chance went to Burton when Poke did well to hold on to a Goodfellow free kick. Danny Stevens very nearly supplied a dream home debut for United's second substitute of the game Eunan O'Kane when he curled a deep cross from the left to the far post but Poole made a good save with his legs from the young Irishman.
With ten minutes remaining United had glorious chance to nick all the points but Chris Robertson couldn't direct his header toward goal from close range after a well delivered free kick from O'Kane. That was as good as it got for the Gulls as four minutes later Burton grabbed the winner. The increasingly influential Taylor made another darting run beating two challenges before hitting a fine cross-shot that Michael Poke couldn't get a fingertip to. It left Plainmoor in a stunned silence but on the balance of play it was probably deserved. All attention now turns to Barnet on Tuesday evening.
Bucks was honest in his assessment of the result and performance after Burton's 3-2 victory: ''We were two nil up and in a very strong position but in the end Burton have hit the ball three times from outside the area and each one has flown in the net. You can call them great strikes or you can call it poor defending where we haven't pressed the ball. In the end it is three points thrown away.
'We are trying very hard to bring players to the club, it is proving difficult at times within the budget that we have got but it was never going to an easy season for us. The most important thing right now is that we have thrown away three points but is important to keep doing the right things, not get negative and I'm sure the wins will come. The games will come thick and fast now and it is a matter of how quickly you can dust yourself down and remain consistent. I didn't panic in the first season here and I didn't panic when we had a bad start to the season and I'm certainly not going to panic now.'
Paul was also asked about the current situation regarding skipper Chris Hargreaves' future at Plainmoor: 'I have tried to be fair with every single player at this club. Chris (Hargreaves) was offered a coaching role at the club which he didn't except. I had spoken to all of the senior pros, of which Chris is one, about their futures and in Chris' case he had the opportunity to move on. He wanted the opportunity to move to Oxford but in the end there was no deal to be done. I have offered players contracts and I have offered players options and now I will go and do what I feel is right to get us back winning games.
'I like to manage openly and honestly and I put everybody first, I put the players and staff first. I have done that through the transfer window and people have chosen to take contracts offered and others have chosen not to. The deal with Oxford hasn't happened so I will have to sit back down with Chris and see. All of the players out there today and myself have been involved in the three defeats we have had in the league and we all like the pat on the back when we win but we also take full responsibility when we lose.
'I'm a forward thinking manager; I'm somebody who wants to move forward with a purpose. Maybe what I should do is what has happened to me as a player and wait to the end of the season, carry everyone along and then at the end of the season say sorry but I can't offer you a deal and you have a month now to sort something out. I don't want to be like that, I want to be full of integrity and help people out.
'We have to be better, things have to be stepped up and we need a better calibre of player out on the pitch. We need to look and see who is taking the place of people like Chris because he can't play two or three games a week. What I have to do is safeguard things both short and long term, all that has happened this week is that a deal couldn't be done with Oxford.
'I played Chris today and if is still here next week then he is available. The whole eleven who started today, the subs and myself weren't good enough because we didn't win. We have all played a part this season, everyone has had a go and we all take responsibility for the result today. It doesn't matter who scored or who was man of the match. Scott Rendell scored today but it doesn't mean he would be exempt from criticism just like everyone else, you have to look at the bigger picture.'
