One To Watch: Lucas Akins

The game tonight has all the components to be a really entertaining game of football. Both sides like to play with a high intensity and I believe that it will be the attackers that will shine tonight with great interplay for both sides. It has the extra added spice that it is Rowett’s old team and also Maghoma has a connection with the opposition but despite the media hyping this connection up, I’m sure it’ll be business as usual for the Blue boys in regards to the intended outcome being 3 points no matter the opposition.

Burton, despite conceding quite a few goals, have certainly impressed in front of goal themselves. This has to be down to the efficiency in which they convert chances and the player that typifies this is the player that I have selected for my one to watch this week; Lucas Akins. He has converted 75% of the shots that he has had in all 13 appearances this season in the league and the cup. As a wider player, this is particular impressive as usually the angle is against you especially if you’re forced to cut outside and it may be on the weaker foot. Also strikers are able to practice this all throughout the game and get their eye in whereas wingers tend to snatch more at shots so this is certainly a threat.

I have previously written an article about Maghoma and this described how unlike most wingers, he isn’t lightweight and player full of great trickery. Now, Akins is strong also and he also likes to bulldoze his way through but he can pull out the odd skill which almost gives you the most complete winger that there can be. His team mates also rate him highly which is shown in the amount of possession he gets. They clearly trust that he can do the job and have full confidence to beat a man as this is shown with a very high number of passes coming to him in comparison to the other wide positions.

In a regular game of football, it is always imperative to stop crosses and I’m sure most fullbacks will tell you that, that is what their aim is when the winger has the ball near the byline. But it is even more important with Akins that we do stop that initial cross because he can generate so much pace on the ball that it is easy for the striker to head the ball in even under pressure. They also like to push the midfielders forward and so any deliver can easily land on the head of the opposition which will be a very costly thing indeed.

So basically, I think that we can score goals against Burton. We have shown a much improved eye in front of goal in recent weeks and Burton don’t have the best defensive record it has to be said. But they do have an attacking threat whereby a lot of it comes through Akin so if we try and double up on him and force him inside, then I am confident that we can get the job done.