We had been the better side in the first half, but I likened it to the least dry crust of bread left in the packet when you go to make a bacon sandwich. It wasn’t mouldy and rancid, but it was just a bit stale. We were least stale in the first half, but in fairness, the second half provided a couple of nice fresh pieces to wrap around the bacon of a cup tie.
Burton came out with a real purpose, looking for a fast start, and that worked well for us. As they committed forward, it meant Rob Street and Okoronkwo got chances and opportunities in behind. Not everything was clear cut, but we had twice as many shots, three times as many shots on target and (predictably from twice as many shots) twice as much xG.
Rob Street might feel frustrated at not getting on the scoresheet – a first half header went tamely over when he might have got it on target, but in the second period he had two decent chances. Okoro and Darikwa combined nicely to set up one chance, which Rob did well to get on target. It wasn’t unlike Draper’s goal against Northampton, just against a better keeper and defence.
Kamil Dudek, the Burton stopper, had a superb game, and he was on hand not long after to deny Street again. An excellent Tom Bayliss cross found the former Cheltenham man at the back stick, but Dudek was equal to the effort.
Burton had their chances as well – Webster at the heart of most. His long-range effort tested Jeacock, and a free kick clipped the bar, although our number two did look to have it covered, just. Dylan Williams, another former Chelsea youngster, also had a decent chance to score, firing through a crowd after Towler’s block, only for Jeacock to palm it away after seeing it late. Zach will be delighted – George Wickens has been excellent this season, but he certainly sent an “I’m still here” message with a competent and assured outing.
The game had opened up, and with 20 minutes to go, City wheeled out the big guns. Freddie Draper, Conor McGrandles, Reeco Hackett and James Collins all entered the fray, swinging momentum firmly towards City. Hackett immediately offered penetration from the right, twisting and turning his marker on a couple of occasions.
Respect to Burton, they kept pushing, and the game felt almost end-to-end. Okoronkwo still pulsated with energy, and it was his defensive work, dispossessing Julian Larsson, that saw the best chance of the game. He stole the ball away and threaded a nice pass through to Collins. You’d put your house and your mum’s house on him to score as he went one-on-one with a keeper making only his second senior appearance, but Dudek stayed big and made an excellent save. I know we have good keepers, but having conceded six in four matches, Burton’s number one, Jordan Amissah, has some real competition in the form of the youngster.
As the game wore on, it felt less likely we’d see penalties, with gaps appearing. With the reinforcements on, we looked most likely to score, and finally, after 15 shots, we made number 16 count. I know the talk will be about the finish, and I praised Draper’s assist, but it has to be noted it started with Okoronkwo. With back to goal midway in the attacking half, he beat Kyle Lofthouse before finding Draper. Our in-form striker rolled the ball into House’s path on the edge of the box, and he did the rest with an inch-perfect curling strike. It was a first-time hit that you knew was going in as soon as it left his boot. The keeper could do nothing but watch as it sailed over his head and into the top corner for one of the finest goals we’ll score this season.
For the final three minutes, Burton committed bodies forward and we almost added a second. The corner they were attacking was headed away by the excellent Okoronkwo, and Collins combined with Hamer. He lofted a ball over Dudek, who raced forward, leaving an open goal 45 yards out. The ball wouldn’t quite sit up for House, and with Toby Sibbick on hand, his lofted effort was eventually saved by Dudek scrambling back.
That drew the event to a close, a game that started slowly, built slowly and ended in a crescendo of shots and chances. City were good value for the win, and while we can’t draw too much from the outcome in terms of our league effort, there were a lot of positives. Getting minutes into a couple of new faces was important, as well as exposing Zane Okoro to first-team action. It was also a chance to see us against a side that wanted to sit in and have us break them down in spells, something we haven’t been up against much of late.
This was a simple chapter in a much bigger story, the 2025/26 season, but it’s a plot builder. Five wins in seven, unbeaten in five and heading into three home games on the bounce. Where will we be come our return to Burton in two-and-a-half weeks’ time? With Mansfield and Wigan up at the Bank, opponents who won’t be easy but are beatable, we could well come back to Burton firmly established as early top six challengers.
One thing is for certain – the team felt very familiar on the opening day, but after last night, there is a clear evolution. Fingers crossed for a good home draw (Chelsea, please, my Dad’s “other” team), and hope grows for a good season at Sincil Bank.