Pre season life
Weeks have pasted since I last wrote here, I've been really busy with Burton and because this, I haven't found much time in my schedule to write. However, I can finally tell you about our little pre season, which has been amazing. My life is a dream at the moment, I'm loving it. My dream came true and I can't believe where I am. Pre season has been a really fun journey, I stood in the manager dug-out with so much pride, I couldn't believe that I was in there. I have interacted with all the fans, who really seem to like me (some in a different way!) But lets not stall, I can't wait to tell you about each and every game.
My first match as manager, was against Skrill Premier team, Alferton, which was held at North Street. Little attended, but I understood, it was a small non league team, in a ground quite far from us. However, we performed with skill. The players played some great football all game and this made me feel great. The tactics fitted really well with the players, who seemed to fit each role very well and it didn't take us long to get into stride. After many shots, we eventually scored after 29 minutes, Adam McGurk scoring. I instantly knew he was a special player, he played with so much confidence, it was amazing, he was amazing to watch. The game calmed down after the goal and we held on to win 1-0, not a bad debut for me!
Next up was Yeovil Town, who recently gained promotion to the Championship. We came in as the underdogs, huge underdogs actually. Yeovil played a strong line-up, most of their first team players started, they seemed to take this game very seriously, like it were a FA Cup final! However, we came out with confidence and just 4 minutes in, Billy Kee scored, as the 946 fans that attended in our favour, cheered. With our heads held high, we continued with pride and we really troubled the travelling Yeovil side. I could tell that a second goal was coming and it did, unsurprisingly, Adam McGurk had hit home the goal, doubling our lead. As the half time whistle blew and the boys came into the dressing room, I told them, 'This has been an amazing performance so far, keep it up, don't give them a chance to get bad into the game, imagine as if it were a cup final.' The team talk must of inspired them further, as just 4 minutes into the half, new signing, Esteban Lopez made it 3-0. Yeovil did score later on, but we held on for a 3-1 win, I smiled at the players and they did the same to me.
Finally we played another Championship team in Derby County, 3,779 attended to the Pirelli Stadium, as Derby won 2-0. The score line may show that Derby won, but it definitely didn't seem it. Yet again the team played some good football and they were very consistent. We dominated the first 20 minutes and Derby couldn't get a foothold into the match at all. But, as most Championship sides can, Derby needed just a little bit of a chance to score just 10 minutes later, as loanee, Patrick Bamford finished a great move. Josh Ayling, just 12 minutes later, hit a beautiful shot into the top corner, to double the lead and that's how it finished, despite some great chances for us in the second half.
Overall, we had a great pre season, I'm very excited to see what happens in our league campaign, which starts in just a weeks time against Cheltenham. Can we deliver and get off to a good start? I think we can!
'till next time,
Burton Albion manager, Chloe
