Albion have to be ready to take the next chance
LUCAS Akins says Burton Albion must be ready to take the next opportunity that comes along as they look to get their League One campaign back on track.
The Brewers are preparing to face Shrewsbury Town at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday after a rare weekend off because of the FA Cup second round.
Before that mini-break, Albion lost successive matches against eighth-placed Blackpool and Charlton Athletic - who are currently in the final play-off place - after winning four of their previous six.
Akins knows those sides are where they are on merit at this stage of the season, while Burton have dropped back down to 16th, 10 points adrift of the top six and seven clear of the relegation zone.
The season is approaching the halfway point and there are still 81 points up for grabs - and on-field captain Akins wants his side to make sure they start picking those points up again.
“The play-off teams are there because they deserve to be there at the moment,” he said.
“Fortunately nothing is decided in November obviously that helps.
“But we need to put a good run together in important periods.
“We managed to do that to get almost within touching distance before the Blackpool game (when Burton were only four points shy of the top six).
“You’ve just got to keep yourself right and prepared and ready to take the next opportunity and not pass it up.
“We didn’t do that but we live to fight another and that’s what we’ll look to do.”