Burgess: We Have to Use Bournemouth Defeat as Fuel at Wolves
Friday, 13th Dec 2024 06:00 by Kallum Brisset
Cameron Burgess believes Town need to use last weekend’s disappointment against Bournemouth as fuel heading into Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Blues lost 2-1 having let an 86th-minute lead slip against the Cherries at Portman Road last weekend, leaving Kieran McKenna’s side four points from safety with just one win to their name in 15 league matches this season.
That result marked Town’s third straight defeat ahead of their visit to Molineux this weekend where hosts Wolves have also lost three on the spin and sit behind the Blues in the Premier League table on goal difference.
Despite late disappointment, Burgess says there was plenty to be pleased about in the performance, such as Conor Chaplin’s first Premier League goal, and that it continued to show the Blues are competitive in almost every match.
“I guess the first thing to say is there were a lot of positives there,” the defender said. “We put in 95 per cent of a really good performance and then there’s moments in the game we know we can be better on. We have to use that as fuel going into the next game.
“It’s fine margins I suppose in the Premier League when there’s VAR involved. I felt it was a bit harsh on the disallowed goal but it is what it is and you have to deal with it.
“I owe Chappers the biggest shout he’s ever done in his life for me to be able to hear him. It was a no-brainer as he’s done that for his whole career so tee him up and great to see him get his first goal.”
Reflecting further on Chaplin’s first top-flight goal, Burgess says he was pleased to be able to get the assist that provided the forward with the opportunity to score in all four divisions in English football.
He also believes he is getting closer to completing that achievement himself, having had a goal disallowed last weekend while also hitting the crossbar and seeing a header cleared off the line in recent weeks.
“It was nice to get a nod of appreciation for the pass when he ran off,” Burgess joked. “But it’s brilliant for Conor, he fully deserves it for what he’s done for this club and he’s a credit to himself as well. He’s a top professional and a top guy, I couldn’t be happier for him.
“I said that to him, I probably should have shot and took that acclaim myself. It’s great for him and hopefully I can join him shortly.
“It’s not for the lack of trying that’s for sure. All the lads work really hard on set pieces, hopefully I can get one off the mark soon and then maybe a few more as well.”
Burgess was a colossal presence defensively against the Cherries as well and will feel hard done by to have come out on the losing side.
Asked if the performance was his best since joining Town, he said: “Possibly, I can’t really think of too many others. It’s not as nice a feeling when you don’t top it off with three points so hopefully we can do one better at the weekend.”
Following the weekend trip to Wolves, the Blues face a tougher-looking run of fixtures on paper. Despite having failed to capitalise on recent matches, Burgess does not see the results as a missed opportunity.
He said: “Not really. We don’t know where the points are coming from and we’re living proof of that as a team to go and pick up points against the bigger teams in this league just shows that.
“In every game we give absolutely everything and we’ll give it everything to get the three points again on Saturday.”
Burgess appears to have handled the step-up to the Premier League seamlessly having faced stiff competition for his place on the left of Town’s central defensive unit from fellow left-footed defender Jacob Greaves.
Greaves joined in the summer for around £15 million but is currently out of the side since his hamstring injury due to the form of Burgess, who says the entire squad thrive off a competitive group of players.
“There’s a hell of a lot of quality in the squad,” he said. “Everyone is champing at the bit to play minutes in this league and help the team.
“It’s going to be frustrating at times for players to not play, I’ve been through that multiple times while I’ve been at this club.
“It’s about adding value where you can when you’re not able to play and when you do get the chance to play to try and grab the opportunity with both hands.
“It’s doing it for your teammates, there’s a lot of motivation in that dressing room that’s for sure. I don’t necessarily need too much more, it’s all in there and we know what we have to do.”
Since back-to-back promotions to the Premier League from League One, Burgess has repeatedly praised manager McKenna for his impact on his development during his time at the club.
He said: “I owe a lot to the coaching staff here. Day in, day out there’s no stone left unturned, we train so hard and I owe a lot to the coaches around me that have helped me get to this point. And my teammates as well, we push each other all the way and I owe a lot to the people around me.
“Every level you go up to is tough and you have to take time to get used to it. It’s definitely been an exciting one and we’re all relishing the opportunity to play in what is the best league in the world. We’ll give it our best to show we can mix it.
“We can only give everything we’ve got, we certainly believe we can be in this division next season and that’s the aim. Bring it on, it’s a big challenge and we know that but we certainly know we’re capable of doing what we set out to do.”
Many argue that the gap between the top end of the Championship and the bottom end of the Premier League is getting bigger each year, with the Blues’ total of nine points from 15 matches perhaps an indication of the challenges faced by newly-promoted sides.
But Burgess, alongside his teammates, is full of belief that Town can survive in the top flight this season, highlighting that the results against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United show that they can compete with the top clubs.
The 29-year-old said: “We’re living proof that points can come from anywhere, we’ve gone and got a win away at Tottenham. We keep the belief and we keep working hard, that’s all we know how to do as a group as we’ve done that all along ever since I’ve been here.
“We’ve shown over the last few years that we’re a team that can keep improving so we keep the belief in that and hopefully that stands us in good stead.”
Asked if he feels neutrals want Town to stay up this season, Burgess added: “Maybe so. There’s probably a lot of footballers out there that will take confidence in what we’ve managed to do as a group and know that they can do it themselves.
“What we try and focus on is what’s in our dressing room and keep a hold of that and do what we can do best, but there’s probably that little bit of outside support from elsewhere.”
Burgess is one of a number of Town players who have been on the journey from the start, alongside the likes of Sam Morsy, Wes Burns, Leif Davis, Conor Chaplin and Luke Woolfenden who have been at the club since the League One promotion.
However, due to the fast-paced nature of football, the Australia international has not had the chance to reflect on the personal journey and instead wants to focus on the here and now.
The former Accrington Stanley defender said: “It’s a credit to the group and the coaching staff for the environment we’ve created around the club. We’re all really grateful for the journey that we’ve been on and the people involved in that.
“I’ve mentioned this a few times but even the promotions that we’ve had in the last few years I’ve not really had a chance to reflect on it. It’s just been pushing on and take it onto the next thing.
“It’s all part of the journey and everyone’s striving to get to where we’re trying to get to ourselves. There’s still a long way to go and it’s all part of the journey.
“There’s a lot of luck to be had in football with coming across the right people at the right time I suppose. It’s about believing in your own journey, taking it each game as it comes and always giving it everything you’ve got to try and get to the top. This group is living proof of that.”
Burgess made his senior debut against Town at Portman Road for Fulham in 2014 and has been around the Cottagers’ environment when they were in and out of the top flight.
“When you see it at that level and how good that Fulham team was and the players that you’re around, you knew the level you wanted to get to,” he said.
“There was always that aspiration to get back to this level and it’s a nice moment of reflection. There’s a lot more work to be done and hopefully we can stay at this level.”
With last weekend’s man of the match performance marking Burgess’s 100th league appearance for the Blues following his debut at Cheltenham Town three years ago, he said: “I didn’t know that but it’s definitely a proud moment for me and hopefully many more to come.
“It’s probably the same for a lot of players in that dressing room. Everyone’s been on their own journeys and that’s part of our stories and the fuel we use to try and do our best in each and every game.”
TWTD
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