Nigel Clough believes fans got to see the real Burton Albion again as they secured their first away point of the season with tonight's goalless draw at Norwich City.
Questions had been asked before the game about how the Brewers would respond to Saturday's 5-0 defeat at Leeds United - and Albion answered any doubts with a thoroughly committed and well-disciplined display.
Clough made only two changes - both enforced - but his side were solid throughout against a Canaries side orchestrated by Wes Hoolahan, with Stephen Bywater only once called into serious action, when he produced a fine close-range save to deny Josh Murphy.
Despite showing the sort of resilience that spurred them on to safety at the back end of last season, Burton could arguably have won the game with the few chances they created, Joe Mason failing to beat Angus Gunn after going through early on, before Jamie Allen saw his back-post effort blocked by Ivo Pinto from close range.
Still, Clough had every right to be full of praise for his side's character at Carrow Road, especially given what he had seen three days previously.
"It was just lacking a goal," he said of his team's display.
"We had two very good opportunities to get one of those, and we'd have possibly won the game 1-0 tonight.
"But I think after Saturday, it was very important to show that that wasn't the real us.
"What you saw tonight was more like the character that we've got in the dressing room."
As well as getting a first away point of the campaign under their belts, the Brewers' organisation and resolve made sure of a first clean sheet since April's 2-0 win at Birmingham City.
"We had to work right until the 95th minute for it," added Clough.
"But I thought defensively we stood up and got blocks in.
"Stephen has made one brilliant save when the lad has got through, and apart from that, I don't remember him having too much to do in terms of saves.
"They had a lot of possession in the second half, but we had an equally good chance with Jamie Allen at the far post."
