(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough is hoping his side’s impressive start to life in the second tier will help the club attract more players come the January transfer window.
The Brewers were the bookies favourites, and almost everyone else’s favourite’s, too, for an immediate return to League One after their promotion to the Championship, but have so far defied all the odds to currently sit three points clear of the relegation zone.
Notable victories over teams such as Derby and Birmingham have also turned a few heads, and Clough is hopeful players will now be more keen to come to the Pirelli Stadium.
“We knew we would not be first choice on a lot of players’ lists for where they wanted to play in the Championship,” Clough told Radio Derby.
“In the first 19 games people have seen us play and I think we have played a little bit better than people anticipated.
“Hopefully come January, and if we manage to stay up in the summer, signing players will become an easier task.”
Despite the Brewers settling into life in the Championship fairly well, and beating some big teams chasing promotion, Clough actually has mixed feelings about how his side are doing.
With his side 19th in the table as the season approaches the halfway stage, Clough said: “We would have taken it at the start of the season but we think we have played better than that.
“For the chances we have created we haven’t scored enough goals.
“But, if we can replicate the first 19 games and have 44 points after 38 games that would be a very good target, and would gives us eight games to get to 50 points.”