Hemming’s hat-trick hands Hasselbaink sixth successive victory

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s remarkable return to Burton Albion continued in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 win away at Crewe Alexandra.

What sensed to be a tight affair in the build-up, considering the Railwaymen’s 11 match unbeaten run at Gresty Road, was all but won by the visitors within 35 minutes.

A hat-trick of errors from Crewe’s back line gifted Kane Hemmings a hat-trick of his own, earning his side their sixth straight league and away victory.

The opener came via a Tom Hamer long throw which bounced twice inside the Alex’s six-yard box – the striker on hand to apply the decisive touch.

More miscommunication and poor spacial awareness followed for centre back partners Omar Beckles and Nathan Wood when Hemmings made the most of a long-ball forward and fired past Dave Richards to double the Brewers lead.

Beckles then failed to control an ill-advised pass from Rio Adebisi allowing the Burton forward to pounce and score his third before half-time.

The Brewers relentless harrying and direct approach proved too much for the hosts as their stubbornness to play their usual passing game cost them.

Despite having 64% of possession, a combination of nonsense defending and a high block from the Burton midfield three limited Crewe from creating any chances of real quality. When they did pose a threat, former Alex shot-stopper Ben Garratt produced some excellent saves to earn his seventh clean sheet of the season.

Burton’s shocking ability to defend crosses into the box in the first-half of the season seems to be a distant memory, as Crewe’s 27 crosses could only find Brewer heads. If it wasn’t one of the centre-halves, Michael Mancienne or Hayden Carter, it was either Hamer or John Brayford cleaning up at their respective posts.

With this gaping issue now rectified, the Brewers have only conceded six in their last 11 matches. Prior to Hasselbaink’s appointment, they had shipped 45.

Such form at the back has correlated to the Staffordshire’s form in the league putting them behind only Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley across England’s top-four divisons.

Burton now sit seven points above the relegation zone with games in-hand on those below them – a miraculous feat bearing in mind they were rock-bottom on the turn of the year.

As for Crewe, their promotion hopes still remain in tact but with a tricky run until the end of the season, mid-table seems more likely.

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