Boss: Beesley is giving us so much, I was glad to rest him

GARY Bowyer says one of the best things about Tuesday night's Vertu Trophy tie against Chesterfield was having enough players available to ensure he could give striker Jake Beesley a good rest.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

The Burton Albion manager paid fulsome tribute to Beesley at his press conference on Thursday, emphasising the overall contribution made by the summer signing from Blackpool even though, as yet, he has scored only one goal.

It was a contribution noted by Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann after last Saturday's 1-1 draw between the sides, in which Beesley's workrate was outstanding.

"We were able to rest Jake Beesley on Tuesday and that was always the plan because he's been magnificent for us," said Bowyer.

"I listened to Grant McCann's post-match interview because somebody had told me about how glowingly he spoke about Bees and the performance that he put in in the second half.

"But it wasn't just the second half, he's a put a performance in every game he's played and he comes off, battered and bruised, booted every week and he gets up the next day and he's ready to train - so it was really important that we gave him a little bit of a breather."

Bowyer is also convinced the goals will come for Beesley and pointed out how unlucky he had been with a header that hit the post and a shot cleared off the line against Doncaster.

"He's such a top bloke who obviously knows what his role in the team is and, in his world, that's to score goals," said Bowyer.

"But I look at it slightly different. If you look at his opportunities, he got in a fantastic header when he was being pulled all over the place again.

"He connected with the header, it hit the inside of the post and bounced straight into the keeper's hands.

"The other one, he got stuck under his foot.

"But what I love about him is he'll keep going and keep going and he knows his value to the team and he leads by example.

"He really does in terms of his work rate, how he is around here.