Tight meeting fails to fall Brewers' way

HECTIC SCHEDULE CATCHES UP WITH HAMSTRUNG ALBION

- By DAN NEWBOULD

Lofthouse, left, looks to hold off the challenge of Wigan's Joseph Hungbo

(RICHARD BURLEY/ EPIC ACTION IMAGERY)

BURTON Albion suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Wigan as all their injuries, illnesses and tired bodies ultimately caught up with them on a night to forget.

For so long, this same set of players, some playing out of position, some playing their first minutes, some barely into their senior careers, have been overachieving with so many out injured, ill or suspended and eventually it was perhaps always going to result in a flat, tame performance which Wigan ultimately capitalised on in the second half despite nothing separating the two in the first.

The schedule is the same for both sides, of course, but the injury list and resources aren’t and boss Gary Bowyer must be crying out for January and the opportunity to add depth and competition to these warriors whose efforts cannot be questioned one bit.

Everything that was there on Friday was lacking here but then, with the chaotic schedule of games every three or four days and Albion's ever increasing list of absences, that is entirely understandable and maybe the blame should lie with the organisers of the league.