John Brayford hails ‘incredible start to second half’ as Burton beat Stockport

John Brayford hailed an “incredible start to the second half” after Burton’s stunning 3-0 home win over Stockport.

Victory over the Hatters made it seven points from nine in a week and back-to-back home wins as Albion set the standard for what they need in the remainder of the season to keep climbing the table.

“It was an incredible start to the second half,” first-team coach Brayford began after Tyrese Shade scored less than two minutes after the restart, the first of two goals for the striker along with George Evans’ first goal since December 2021.

“What got said at half-time was about getting more on the front foot. The skipper drove us forward. Shadey between the sticks and it’s one nil and obviously this place can be a fortress when we get going.

“The third goal goes in after about 64 minutes and the game is turned on its head simply by people running forwards, getting shots on target and even a top team like Stockport couldn’t deal with it second half.”

“Tonight has to be the benchmark for them,” Brayford urged. “The lads know they have got that in the locker now and when we really go after teams you can see what we can do.

“You have a team like Stockport who are pushing for promotion, and we have scored three goals, kept a clean sheet and kept their forward line quiet for 95 minutes of the game.”

Stockport manager Dave Challinor cut a frustrated figure as he tried to explain a horrendous night for his side as their away day woes in 2026 continued.

The Hatters have won just one of six on the road this calendar year so far and never looked likely to improve on that after Albion’s three goal salvo.

“I can’t think of any game since I have been at the club where every facet of the game has been off for us, and that was the case tonight,” Challinor conceded.

“First half wasn’t a great game, to be honest, second half we spoke about winning duels and we didn’t win any. Particularly on the first goal and after that it became a really difficult night for us.”

Stockport keeper Ben Hinchliffe had a night to forget when his error in trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick failed and Shade embarrassed him on the touchline before firing into an empty net, summing up Stockport’s nightmare evening.

“I take responsibility for the team that went out there,” Challinor added. “The goals we conceded were so poor. Not tracking runners, not competing and mistakes all over the pitch.

“When you make changes and then go two down it’s not ideal and it’s not the end of the game, but tonight it might as well have been because from the moment we kicked off in the second half we were nowhere near good enough.”