Nigel Clough wants Burton Albion to stretch unbeaten run in Leeds United and Norwich City clashes

Nigel Clough knows how difficult it is to build unbeaten runs in the Championship - but he wants Burton Albion to do exactly that in the coming days.

The Brewers head to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on Saturday (3pm), having taken four points from the last six available to them after losing their first three league games of the campaign.

With a Carabao Cup triumph at Cardiff City sandwiched in between the 2-1 home victory over Birmingham City and 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, Clough's men are unbeaten in three games as they prepare to face a Leeds side yet to taste defeat in any competition this term.

Nigel Clough will see his side travel to Leeds United and Norwich City in the next five days (Image: Richard Burley/Epic Action Imagery)

And having seen his side string together two wins and three draws at a similar stage this time 12 months ago, the Brewers boss knows what a galvanising effect avoiding losses can provide to a side in Burton's position.

"We are three unbeaten now, and although we've had the international break, we want to try to keep it going on Saturday," he said.

"It's amazing how much that breeds confidence in the Championship.

"It's a very difficult league to try to get unbeaten runs together, because everybody beats everybody at some stage.

"It's a difficult league to do that in, but I think we are confident - after losing our first three, we've bounced back and are in reasonable shape now."

By Wednesday morning, Burton will have faced Hull City, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Norwich City away from home in the first five weeks of the season.

A 4-1 defeat at Hull on August 12 was followed three days later by a 2-0 loss at Boro.

This time around, with Leeds and the Canaries on the horizon, Clough is targeting points to maintain that unbeaten run and to ensure the pressure does not build on their home games in the near future.

"I don't think they come too much tougher than the first four away games," he added.

"We've got Hull, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Norwich.

Nigel Clough consoles Marvin Sordell and Matty Lund after the defeat at Middlesbrough (Image: Alex Dodd/Epic Action Imagery)

"So it is good to get them out of the way - but we want to get something from them.

"We are targeting the next two away games, before Fulham at home, to get a point, to get something from the games.

"Because we had a spell at Hull where we were 1-1 with 11 men before we went down to 10 men (when Jackson Irvine was sent off), and then we had a spell at Boro as well.