IT LOOKED at one stage last season like Burton Albion would have promotion to the Football League wrapped up long before the business end of the campaign, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

IT LOOKED at one stage last season like Burton Albion would have promotion to the Football League wrapped up long before the business end of the campaign, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

But when manager Nigel Clough left the club in January 2009 and Roy McFarlane took over, they ended up limping to the Conference title, by just two points from nearest rivals Cambridge United.

McFarlane then left the club after stating he didn't want to continue in the role, and was somewhat surprisingly replaced by former Birmingham and West Brom striker, Canadian international Paul Peschisolido.

The 48-year-old had no managerial experience, apart from the assistant's role at Irish club St Patrick's Athletic, but he has made a promising start at the Pirelli Stadium.

They suffered two unceremonious defeats at the hands of Shrewsbury (3-1) and Reading in the Carling Cup (5-1), in their opening to matches, but bounced back in style with their first league points, by hammering Morecambe 5-2.

A defeat at home to Torquay followed, but since then, in the league, they have gone on a four-match unbeaten run to climb the table.

Most of the squad have been with the Brewers since their Conference days, although they have signed plenty of experience to help out, in Richard Walker, Paul Boertien, Marc Edworthy and centre half Guy Branston.

On the way out were Jake Buxton and Saul Deeney, both joining Clough at Derby, but that has been supplemented by the loan signings of Robin Shroot (Birmingham), Shane Redmond (Notts Forest), Jacques Maghoma (Spurs) and Artur Krysiak (Birmingham).

TEAM NEWS

Daggers: Danny Spiller might have to make do with a place on the bench again, while Tom Kilbey will also be pushing to be amongst the substitutes. Will Antwi is expected to be first after picking up a knock against Chesterfield.

Burton: Midfielders Russell Penn and Jacques Maghoma along with goalkeeper Shane Redmond, and defenders Shane Redmond and Darren Stride all featured in the 3-0 reserve victory over Derby County and are now pressing for first-team places.

WE'VE MET BEFORE

Daggers have the upper hand over Burton in their recent matches, and have never been beaten at the Pirelli Stadium in their previous five visits, with three wins and two draws to their name.

The last came one was back on February 17, 2007, when two Sam Sloma goals sealed the points, and Tony Roberts, Anwar Uddin, Scott Griffiths and Paul Benson are the only remaining players from the side that day.

With three victories and two losses on home soil, Daggers have a total of six wins and two draws, with just the two defeats so far.

ONE TO WATCH

Guy Branston - now at his 15th club, despite being just 30-years-old, but the no-nonsense centre-half will give both Paul Benson and Josh Scott one of their toughest tests of the season so far.

FROM THE DUGOUT

"With Dagenham, you have a manager who knows his players inside out and they all know their jobs," Burton boss Paul Peschisolido.

"They're very organised and they put you under a lot of pressure. They play direct but it would be disrespectful to call them a long-ball team - they're better than that.

"They are strong, quick and they do everything at a tempo that we will have to match.

"We're looking at that. We have to raise our tempo when we're in possession.

"It's going to be a tough test but it would be brilliant if we could now claim three points at home to back up the two very good points we've just got on the road.

"We've put in four consistent performances to be unbeaten in four and we want to keep that going."

PREDICTION

Daggers are in a fine run of form, and have shown their defensive qualities away from home, so the Post is anticipating a 1-1 draw.

Can Daggers emerge victorious against Burton? Email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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