THE GOOD AND THE NOT SO GOOD IN BREWERS' SQUAD PROGRESS SO FAR

GARY Bowyer has often made reference to “the way we want to play” but with results not going as Burton Albion would like for much of the season so far, he was asked at his press conference this week which aspects of “the way” were working out - and which were not.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

It was a loaded question with, potentially, a complex answer but, without going into detail about tactics, Bowyer did not duck it.

One aim this season has been to raise the possession stats.

"I think we're certainly having more of the ball this season than what we did last season," he said.

"I think that’s clear to see and last Saturday (65% against Lincoln City) being evidence of that. "In terms of areas for us to improve, as a result of that we haven't been as devastating on the counterattack as we were last season.

"Then, obviously, we've got to create more chances and convert more chances.

"It's as simple as that with the ball.

"And that means not just looking at your wing-backs to get the crosses in.

"Our outside centre-backs can join in and create overloads. And then our midfielders can go and make those decisions as well.

"Then it's getting more bodies in the box. We've got to provide. Bees (Jake Beesley) and Tyrese (Shade) and Fabio (Tavares) with more goal-scoring opportunities.

"That's something we certainly worked on this week as well.

"And, defensively, obviously, we need to be keeping the thing out of the net better."

Here was how Bowyer responded to other questions at his Thursday conference.