Burton Albion v Gillingham - Player Ratings - Written by Lee Clifton

Starting XI:

Jack Bonham: 7 - Didn't have much to do, but what he did have to do he did exceptionally well, including saving a John Brayford header at the far post from a Colin Daniel in-swinging corner. Had to stop a dipping shot which flew just over Max Ehmer's head, too, which he must have seen late.


Barry Fuller: 6 - Had to try and contain Lucas Akins, which is easier said than done, but, like the whole the back five, did his job to earn Gillingham another point away from home and help them keep another clean sheet. You know what you're getting with Fuller, and he stopped Akins from being a real threat in the match.


Max Ehmer: 7 - Could have had an assist had John Akinde not miskicked a volley from his pull back. Like everyone else in the defence, played his part to help the Gills keep a clean sheet away from home.


Jack Tucker: 7 - Made one fantastic interception in the second half to prevent Burton creating a clear-cut opportunity. Was in the right place at the right time to make important clearances, and he just gets better and better. The real challenge will be for Gillingham to hang on to him in the summer.


Connor Ogilvie: 7 - Combined well with Pringle down the left. Was fouled twice by Sarkic which lead to him being sent off, and, again, like everyone else in the back five, played his part in a defence which kept a good clean sheet away from home.


Tom O'Connor: 6 – Returning from injury and perhaps playing out of position with Alfie Jones out injured, but did well. Made one very important block to deflect a Brayford cross out for a corner. Had he scored at the end of the match with a shot that crashed against the crossbar, he’d be getting an eight.


Matty Willock: 7 - Best performance from Willock in a Gillingham shirt. Almost opened the scoring in the first minute when his deflected shot had to be tipped behind. Took players on and had another effort deflected for a corner in the second half. Seemed likely he’d be taken off earlier and perhaps should’ve been – price was paid with his injury. Hopefully it isn't serious because the signs of a decent footballer were there, yesterday.


Ben Pringle: 6 - Free-kicks and corners kept being cleared by the first man which was disappointing. Kept things ticking over in midfield very nicely and good on the ball, and, when there were moments of quality from him, there were chances to score. Whipped in one cross which Roberts headed over, but improvement needed from dead-ball situations.


Olly Lee: 6 - Smashed two efforts over in the second-half when presented with good chances, especially the first when Kieran O’Hara palmed a Graham cross straight to him. Showed his quality to move the ball around nicely in midfield, and picked out the likes of Graham and Pringle frequently with some nice cross-field passes.


John Akinde: 7 - Very unlucky not to score from an Ogilvie cross as he forced O’Hara into a great save. Perhaps could’ve done better with Ehmer's pull-back in the first, but had good pace and showed his quality to drive into space when he could. Played Roberts through in the first half, but his partner wasted the chance. Probably shouldn’t have been subbed.


Jordan Roberts: 7 - Headed a Pringle cross over and should have shot first time from Akinde's threaded through-ball. If he’s a bit taller, then he could have got on the end of a Jordan Graham cross in the second-half, but he isn’t and he didn’t. Was a constant nuisance for Albion to deal with and spun in behind on a few occasions. Needed to be closer to Akinde at times for their combination play to be more efficient.


Subs:

Jordan Graham: 8 - A high rating for a substitute, but was brilliant when he came on. Constantly whipped in crosses and would have had an assist on debut had Roberts got on the end of his cross. Showed quality and skill in possession of the ball and provided the side with width as Albion looked to pack the central areas on the pitch when they went down to ten men.


Brandon Hanlan: 5 – Only a five because he came on with just over ten minutes to play. Saw one shot on the turn blocked and used his pace to get in behind to cause Albion problems defensively as we pushed for a winner.