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Burton swap rivalry with Gresley Rovers for meeting Newcastle United and Nigel Clough is loving it

7 years ago
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Nigel Clough is going all out to get a result at St James Park but regardless, just wants his Chairman and everybody else associated with Burton Albion, to simply ‘enjoy the experience’ of coming to Newcastle United.

The Burton Manager describes it as ‘remarkable…to be going to St James Park and to play in front of 50,000’ fans.

In 2009 promoted to League Two, then 2015 to League One, before finally second place in 2016 led to a remarkable rise to the Championship.

Not many years ago, Burton’s big local rivaly was against Gresley Rovers (currently Northern Premier League division one south) and Stafford Rangers.

This season they have taken on local rivals and one-time Champions of England, Derby County and Nottingham Forest…and beaten them.

When it comes to facing Newcastle United, Nigel Clough described it in December as ‘the biggest mis-match in financial resources in English football’.

He has repeated this line ahead of Wednesday night and sums the situation up by saying one or two of Newcastle’s players ‘add up to our entire budget’.

Howeverm he then goes on to say that on the pitch it is more of a leveller, 11 against 11, and despite Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Burton earlier this season, you have to be honest and say that we were lucky to win.

Hopefully luck won’t be needed tonight and Newcastle can make those resources and quality tell, then we can congratulate Burton on their impressive rise and genuinely hope that they can complete a remarkable season of survival that they couldn’t have dreamed of even a couple of years ago.

Nigel Clough:

“As good as (beating) Huddersfield was, it’s over now and we look forward to Newcastle.

“They are top of the league and nobody expects us to get anything but we will try and upset the form book.

“Newcastle pose different problems to Huddersfield.

“It’s daunting for Burton Albion to be going to St James Park and to play in front of 50,000.

“It’s remarkable and I hope the chairman and everyone else enjoys the experience and if we can get a result then brilliant.

They are going to get promoted this season and we might never get the chance to go there again. It’s one we must take in and relish.

“Then there’s Aston Villa on Saturday. These are the fixtures, as daunting as they are, that are the exciting ones for supporters, players, everybody.

“We said when we played Newcastle at home that it was the biggest mis-match in financial resources in English football.

“Like Aston Villa on Saturday, one maybe two of their players adds up to our entire budget.

“that’s the difference we are dealing with but it’s still 11 versus 11 and we will try and go there and upset things.”

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