Nigel Clough knows the intensity Burton Albion showed in beating Birmingham City on Friday night will make them a challenge for any Championship side this season.

Having trailed Harry Redknapp's Blues by a goal at the break, Albion tore into their visitors in the second half at the Pirelli Stadium and claimed a deserved three points - their first of the season - thanks to goals from Marvin Sordell and Lloyd Dyer.

Both efforts were of a high quality , as was the Brewers' entire second-half performance, with a high tempo forcing Birmingham back and that solid defensive organisation of late last season then seeing them over the line.

Marvin Sordell celebrates his leveller against Birmingham City

That tempo had been lacking for long spells of Albion's previous defeats to Cardiff City and Middlesbrough and disappeared after Jackson Irvine's red card in the 4-1 loss at Hull City.

Clough wants his side to play at such intensity more regularly moving forward - and he knows what it could mean if they do.

"That's what we say to the players," he said after the Birmingham triumph.

"If you can play at that tempo - and as we get a bit fitter during the season, we'll be able to do it for longer spells - whoever the opposition, they'll struggle to cope with it.

"We keep stressing that, especially here, under the lights as well - it's a good atmosphere.

"That's when you get your two goals, and we could've had more.

Lloyd Dyer in action for Burton Albion
Lloyd Dyer in action for Burton Albion

"If you have to defend for the last 10 or 15 minutes, so be it. We did that very well as well."

Burton lined up in an attacking 3-5-2 formation from kick-off against Birmingham but switched to a 4-4-2 - with Lucas Akins switching with Jackson Irvine to partner Marvin Sordell up front - at the break.

That change caused the Blues countless problems - although Clough says it was not the shape that proved the difference.

"The formation didn't quite work first half, but it wasn't about the formation," he added.

"It was about the tempo and just working harder generally.

"When we did that in the second half, yes, we changed formation, but it was more about the attitude and the application that we showed in the second half."