'Unbelievably difficult': Nigel Clough delivers Burton verdict ahead of Mansfield Town clash
Nigel Clough is preparing for a tough task when he faces his former club Burton Albion this weekend.
Mansfield Town will make the trip to the Pirelli Stadium for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off in League One. They are still searching for their first point on the road this season, having lost all three previous away games so far.
Clough will step out at a stadium he knows very well, having guided the Brewers to historic promotion feats during his influential years in charge of the club.
Stags are 17th in the league table heading into the weekend, while Albion sit six places and only one point ahead of them. In fact, only three points currently separate sixth from 18th in the League One standings, meaning this weekend could see a major reshuffle involving multiple clubs.
Burton have won two, drawn two and lost two matches so far this season. Clough knows it will be a tough task to topple the Brewers in their own back garden but Stags are in need of a positive away result.
“They look like typical Burton, unbelievably difficult to beat,” the Mansfield boss said during his mid-week press conference. “They got an incredible result winning at Leicester the other week and can spring a surprise result at any time. I think they’ve been very strong at home as well.
“I think what Gary [Bowyer] has achieved there in the last couple of seasons by keeping them in the division has been as good as anything at this level.”
Mansfield Town remain unbeaten at home following their draw with Huddersfield last time out but they are yet to get off the mark on the road. Stags were pipped 2-1 by Peterborough in their first away clash and then suffered a hefty 5-0 defeat at the hands of Reading. Their latest away result was a 1-0 loss to Bradford City.
Bowyer has also praised Clough as a ‘top, top manager’ and has likened the two teams to each other for their similar work ethics. Read more about what Bowyer had to say about Clough and his impact on Burton Albion here.