BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - TUESDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2007

HALIFAX TOWN

2

BURTON ALBION

2

ATT: 1206

CTMD view: Another game undefeated despite not playing at their best. A familiar story but one that has elevated the Brewers to fourth place in the Blue Square Premier.

The sign of a good side is one that can still pick up points when playing poorly, and for more than an hour that was exactly what happened.

How many clubs can bring a player of Clare's quality off the bench to win a game? Not too many, and it is these options that could, just maybe, bring league football back to the town.

Managers view:

Nigel Clough - "We are a bit disappointed with the performance but more than happy with a point. It was a great escape," Clough told Burton's website. "When you are 2-0 down with just over 20 minutes to play then to get a draw is a great result. We've a lot of spirit and honesty and that's why you get late goals."

Chris Wilder - "It was naive football," said Wilder. "We are a relatively young side full of energy and that gave us a two-goal lead. We gave Burton real problems, created chances - and missed them again. But we were naive to let them back into the game so quickly after we had scored our second."

"Burton are very organised, they are water tight and they pose problems up front."

What the paper say:

Halifax Evening Courier - FOR the second game in a row Town were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead - and for the second home game in a row they conceded in stoppage time of a game they ought to have won.

While they picked up a point from their Shay clash with Burton it was a draw that felt like a defeat as Daryl Clare levelled for the Brewers in the seventh minute of time added on at the end - five minutes later than Rushden & Diamonds had equalised 10 days earlier.

There was no dispute over the amount of extra time played, nor about the quality of Clare's strike - a volley on the run from 25 yards out. But the build up to the goal was hugely disappointing as, in one final act of desperation, Burton pumped the ball forward from the back. Town's defence really ought to have been able to deal with it. They could not and Burton extended their unbeaten run to a new club record 10 matches.

For the Shaymen it means a run of two points from a possible nine, scant reward from games in which they led and a further crushing blow following on from the draw with Rushden and defeat at York.

Derby Evening Telegraph - Burton Albion's unbeaten run is leading a charmed life after Daryl Clare volleyed a spectacular equaliser at Halifax Town in the seventh minute of stoppage time last night.

The Brewers duly created a new record 10th league match without losing in the Blue Square Premier and, if they can stay this lucky, who knows what might be possible in what is shaping up to be an extraordinary season.

Quite simply, Burton did not deserve a point. They should have paid the price for a lethargic first-half performance in which former Brewer Jon Shaw nudged Halifax in front.

And they only found something like their normal urgency once they fell two goals behind after 65 minutes.