Burton boss Gary Bowyer was left with slightly mixed emotions after claiming a respectable 1-1 draw away to promotion hopefuls Huddersfield.
League One’s bottom side went ahead early on through Charlie Webster’s strike only to end up sharing the spoils after Michal Helik equalised late in the game for the hosts.
Bowyer said: “Overall it’s pride for how we’ve come again to another team that have spent a lot of money, when you look at what they’re bringing off the bench later on.
“I just thought the way we set up again and the game plan worked well first half. We scored from what I saw was a really good goal in terms of breaking on them, which we’d identified we could do.
“We know what Huddersfield are about and how they go about it. We were defending for our lives but we knew we’d get an opportunity on the counter-attack, which we did.
“We showed an unbelievable desire, togetherness and fight. We’ve defended 17 corners, which must be close to a record. I’ve never been involved in a game where I’ve seen 17 corners, but that’s what they do; they get it in the box and they ask you questions.
“But they just kept going and we’re proud of them, but that’s gone now and we can’t get carried away. We have to get ready for Peterborough and see where we go for that game.”
Huddersfield assistant manager and former Burton boss Martin Paterson was likewise left in two minds after his side missed the opportunity to make up ground on table-topping Birmingham.
He said: “We critiqued the players at half-time for being a little bit too slow, a bit predictable. It’s great passing and playing in front of people, but you have to sometimes force the ball, play at a bit of a quicker tempo to break them down.
“Credit to Burton, they defended ever so well and played really well for Gary, who’s a top bloke. But when we did break the lines, we misplaced the final pass, and then it becomes difficult because they break on you and you have to start again.
“Second half it was a real positive the way the supporters got behind us and dragged the goal in.
“With respect, we had 21 shots second half, so we were dominant – but we needed someone to take responsibility. We were very reliant on set pieces and big centre-halves scoring goals.
“I think the strikers have got to step up. I work with them day in, day out and they’re very capable of it.
“So it’s decision-making and a little bit quality in that final moment to get ice cold and stick it in the net.”
