Ups and downs of break as Albion now two games behind some

IT has been a relatively quiet week for Burton Albion with international call-ups seeing their game against Cardiff City called off at the weekend.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

It at least has given manager Gary Bowyer and his coaching staff a clear run at integrating the new signings into how he wants to do things and, no doubt, getting a few more points across to those who were already here about what they could be doing better.

However, the Brewers will emerge from the international break two games behind most others in the division, as only three matches were off at the weekend.

The fluke of a power cut ahead of the first scheduled Carabao Cup tie away to Tranmere Rovers and the subsequent rearrangement of the game has meant Burton alone have had two League matches called off.

It's swings and roundabouts, it always is. Some people felt it would have been a good time to have been playing an injury-hit Rotherham United when the Tranmere game was rearranged - but Saturday would have been against an inform Cardiff.

Here are a few things from my notebook during this gap in matches.

■IT WAS entertaining to watch Jay Spearing patrolling midfield for Liverpool’s under-21s for an hour of the Trophy tie last week.

He was telling players what to do and, occasionally, showing his experience with sumptuous passes sprayed around.