Burton Albion striker Luke Varney reckons the Brewers can learn a great deal from their 4-1 defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday night.
Albion were dumped out of the Carabao Cup at the third-round stage courtesy of an early flurry of goals that exhibited just why Jose Mourinho's side are widely considered to be challenging for major honours this term.
Home-grown pair Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard set United on their way, with Rashford netting his first just five minutes into the tie, before completing his brace after 17 minutes with an unstoppable long-range strike.
Lingard's deflected effort, wrong-footing Brewers 'keeper Connor Ripley after Ben Turner's block could only divert it past the on-loan Middlesbrough man, sent United into half-time 3-0 up.
It was that first-half performance that sealed the tie for Mourinho's men, but the Brewers weren't without their own opportunities to strike and add intrigue to a tie that was a mere formality in the end.
It was a lesson in clinical finishing, with United scoring from two of their first three attacks after withstanding some early Burton pressure.
Something which Burton can learn from, as captain-for-the-night Varney admits, having watched on-loan Wolves striker Joe Mason squander a good opportunity following Varney's squared pass.
Mason, back into the starting line-up following his omission from the side that won 2-1 against Fulham, elected to try and follow up Rashford's chipped opener with a dinked effort of his own - but United 'keeper Sergio Romero was equal to it.
That early scare prompted the hosts to up the tempo, and the pressure. Wednesday night's workout against a United side that, by our reckoning added up to around £155.2 million of talent in the hosts’ starting XI with around £162.5 million on the bench, will surely stand them in good stead for their own battle for Championship survival.
One thing Varney was most pleased about, though, was his side's ability to give the travelling Brewers something to cheer about - Lloyd Dyer's late consolation following Mason's woodwork-hitting header the first goal to be scored at Old Trafford this season.
Such has been United's dominance against lower-league sides, Burton last night became the first team to score at Old Trafford from a team below the Premier League since Crystal Palace managed it way back in November 2011.
So all in all, not a bad night for Varney and the Brewers - all things considered. But it's back down to Earth on Saturday, where Nigel Clough's side will be hoping to record a second successive away win against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
"Obviously it was very pleasing for the fans, you heard the reaction," Varney said when asked about Dyer's late strike.
"I think it was the biggest cheer of the night.
"We're delighted you might have thought it was a tough evening but I must admit, the lads enjoyed it.
"We probably learnt a few things, watching some of those players out there, they were unbelievable.
"I'm sure some of the lads hold it in good stead and I think it’s something we can learn lot from. Like the gaffer said, we can learn lot tonight.
"Even at my age you still learn, they have some fantastic players. On the ball, they just look after it so well, they make runs off the ball, that sort of thing.
"I'm sure a few of the lads might be trying a few tricks and that in training Friday, but it was a great occasion. There's a good feeling in the camp."
