ROBBIE Weir is hopeful his brace against Cheltenham Town can kickstart his goalscoring form – but says Burton Albion winning is far more important to him, writes TOM SLOAN.
The 24-year-old midfielder was outstanding as the Brewers saw off the Robins 3-1 at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, grabbing the second and third goals to fire Albion back into the top three.
They were his first goals since the 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle in November – and Weir is hungry for more.
“I’ve been waiting a long time and had a few chances in the last couple of games,” said the Northern Irishman.
“Luckily enough, two went in today and I’m over the moon, plus three points is more important at the minute.
“We want to stay up in the table but I’m happy enough to start scoring and hopefully it’s the start of things again.”
Weir began pre-season with a bang and it looked like he could be a prolific goalscorer from midfield.
It has not quite worked out in front of goal, but the former Tranmere Rovers man has been a key part of the jigsaw as the Brewers surprised a few by joining the race for League Two promotion.
“In pre-season I was scoring a few and set myself a target of 10,” said Weir, who now has five goals so far this term.
“I’d still like 10 – I might not get it, but I’ll aim for it.
“I scored a few in pre-season but then it died off a bit. The shots just weren’t going in for me.
“It’s one of those things.
“Now hopefully those two will change things and they’ll start going in for me.”
Weir is delighted that Albion put the 3-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers behind them on Saturday and is now urging his team-mates to press on at Aldershot Town on Tuesday night and get another three points on the board.
“It’s a big three points and that’s what we needed,” said the hard-working midfielder. “We started sloppy but the two goals changed the game and we kicked on from there.
“Luckily enough, things are going for us at the minute and the teams around us lost.
“Hopefully, that’ll give us a bit of breathing space but on Tuesday night we need to kick on again and get another three away to Aldershot.
“Our away performances haven’t been the best lately but I think the lads needs to get themselves up. We’re third for a reason. Four points out of the next two games and we’d be happy enough.
“We need to continue (our home form) with our away performances.
“The next two games are big six pointers.”
Despite the Brewers again sitting in a lofty third position, Weir says they have achieved nothing yet and need to wait until the end of the season before popping the champagne corks.
“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because we haven’t done anything yet,” he said.
“Yes, we are sitting in a nice position in third but we need to kick on now and we can celebrate at the end of the season.
“But now we need to knuckle down and keep working hard.
“I think we can get automatic promotion.
“Like I said we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves at the minute, we just need to keep working hard and doing the things that we’re doing.
“If we can take what we’re doing in our homes into away games we’ll be happy enough.”
Weir is also happy that Burton’s ambitions match his own and says that manager Gary Rowett is realising his vision of where he wants Albion to be – challenging at the right end of the table.
“When I first signed at the start of the season the gaffer had big ambitions for the club to go places,” he said.
“I think this is proving he’s a man of his word and has stepped up to the plate.
“You have to give the lads credit as well, we’ve been brilliant this season.
“When the gaffer first phoned me in the summer and I came down, he had high expectations for the club to go places.
“I think he was a man of his word.
“The training facilities are out of this world and the lads are playing some good football at times.
“It’s just our away form that needs turning up a notch but that will come with time.
“Me and Lee (Bell) combine very well too, so I’m really enjoying it here at the minute.”
