Burton Albion are in their sixth consecutive season in League One following relegation from the Championship in 2018 and haven’t looked like returning to the second tier of English football since. With the likelihood of another bottom-half finish and even a relegation fight this campaign, frustration at the club must be growing.
The Brewers are currently in 18th in the League One table, just five points above the relegation places and a whopping 21 points away from the top six. The side are now on their second manager this season after Dino Maamria was sacked in December following a six-game winless run and 15 months in charge. Former Swansea City and Barnsley assistant Martin Paterson was chosen as Maamria’s successor at the Pirelli Stadium, and he took over with the club 17th in the league, without a win in three games by the start of 2024.
Since he was appointed manager, Paterson has won three of his nine games in charge but has lost four. His side are now on a winless run of games which includes a 1-0 defeat to Carlisle United who look destined for League Two and are 15 points from safety. It’s fair to say the 36-year-old’s start at Burton has been disappointing and with matches against Peterborough United and Portsmouth coming up, the Brewers could be dangerously close to the bottom four by the end of next week.
MANAGER INTERVIEW 📹
Martin Paterson's pre-Peterborough iFollow interview
Watch the full video here 👉 https://t.co/6vsJ61Eue0 #BAFC #Brewers pic.twitter.com/Ko1w2jIEQB
— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) March 7, 2024
Losing their top scorer Beryly Lubala in January has not helped the Brewers at all and is one of the reasons why it is expected to be another underwhelming season for the club and fans. Lubala scored six goals in 26 games for the League One outfit before joining Wycombe Wanderers and the fact he is still their top scorer this year is worrying. None of Burton’s players have reached double figures for goals or assists this campaign and it’s little surprise that they find themselves where they are in the league table.
The Brewers, regardless of current form, are still in a good position to build on and solidify their status in League One for next season. Whilst players may be underperforming this year, Burton Albion still have enough quality to pick up wins from now until May. Mark Helm, Joe Powell, and Mason Bennett are the three key players that Paterson will need to rely on to finish his first year as manager at the club strongly. Helm and Powell both have four goals to their names this campaign and if at least one of them can reach double figures over the next few months, that will be more than enough to keep them up.
Bennett, who joined the League One side in the summer after being released by Championship outfit Millwall, has a lot of experience in senior football and if injuries weren’t a part of his career, would certainly be playing at a higher level.
With 11 games to go this season, Burton Albion will need at least 10 points from a possible 33 to stay in the division, which is attainable. This certainly isn’t going to be a year to remember for fans of the club and the quicker that safety is confirmed the better.
Paterson has the potential to be a top head coach and if he can keep his side up, will be desperate to bring some success to the Pirelli. While it’s yet another underwhelming year in League One, a successful summer transfer window could be all that the Brewers need to achieve success at this level of football once again.
