Lessons again as Brewers can't get past Vale blockade

DISAPPOINTED as he was that Burton Albion did not beat 10-man Port Vale, manager Gary Bowyer looked at the bigger picture and picked out positives for his young squad.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

He had made much of the learning process when they lost a 2-0 lead to Barnsley the previous week and did so again after his team battled to a goalless draw against a Vale side reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute following George Byers’ reckless challenge on Charlie Webster.

“It’s our first clean sheet of the season, so I'm really pleased with that,” said Bowyer.

“I thought that we showed great learning from last week, because remember what happened in the last minute last week - and Port Vale had a couple of opportunities.

“That's two learning experiences that this group’s not had before in the last two games.

“We've had winning 2-0 at halftime, which last season we wouldn't have had. And then this time we've played 10 men for, what, 70 minutes, with a low block and we've not played against that before.

“Again, it was a wonderful opportunity for them to gain experience and learn, because we haven't got much experience in there, so that’s good.”