Burton Albion: So far, so good, says skipper Branston
Brewers captain Branston and his central defensive partner, Tony James, were outstanding in one of the better 0-0 draws there will be this season as they buried the memory of the previous week's 5-2 thrashing at Chesterfield.
The point against the side with League Two's best away record put Burton on 22 for the season after 15 games, just into the top half of the table and, arguably, halfway to the perceived safety mark of about 45 points.
Branston's summing up of his team's position showed him to be the sort of player who studies statistics and uses them for motivation – and he is definitely looking up, rather than down the table.
"If we had won against Bury, it would have given us 24 points and that would have put us up there with teams like Brentford, last year, and Gillingham, the year before, when they both got promoted," he said.
"Twenty-four points at this time of year is very good and I think we're flying now.
"All the good teams have consistency and I think we've finally found that, especially in the last few games at home.
"Yes, we were beaten at Chesterfield but we're trying to build in sections and we're looking at the bigger picture.
"I've always been told it's about four or five stages in the season, starting with your first five or six games, then your next 10, then the next 10.
"You have to keep driving yourselves on because it's a long season and there will be little dips in form, or energy or motivation.
"But if you keep driving yourselves on, that's when you have a successful season.
"I said when I signed here that I didn't want to be in a relegation battle.
"I want to be up there in the mix and we're proving we can be."
Branston's Burton career did not start well, as he was playing catch-up in pre-season after leaving Kettering Town.
He was, by his own admission, off the pace in the early games and came in for some criticism from supporters – some of which he was unable to resist answering during the 1-0 hime defeat to Torquay United.
But the doubters have gone quiet in recent weeks as Branston has backed up his view that he would get better with match fitness and the re-adjustment to the Football League.
"If you look at it, we've bounced back from every loss because we have character in the dressing room," he said,
"I think I have a bit of character and I like to dig deep and prove to people what I can do week in, week out.
"If I'm not at it, I go home and hammer myself and get myself at it for the next day in training. I think that's how everyone should be.
"I was impressed with Bury but I've been impressed with a lot of the sides. It's definitely a step up but the lads are adjusting now and we're starting to look a very good side ourselves."
By his own admission, Branston is a big talker but he is also not without the ability to find humour in the game and with his own reputation as a hard man.
He needed treatment after making a particularly difficult block against Bury and getting a kick on the ankle for his trouble but laughed it off later.
"I'm a horse! No problem," he smiled.
"Wait until the pitches get more cut up, then I'll be able to do even more tackles!
"It's better for me if I have a lot to do in a game. My mind can wander sometimes if it's too easy.
"These teams we're playing against are very good, so, mentally, I feel I'm getting stronger as the days go on.
"And Tony James is class. He's dead relaxed and I'm not. I'm more in your face and having a go at people and we're like yin and yang, I suppose.
"He gets in great positions. I know where he's going to be now and he knows where I'm going to be."
The captain also feels the emerging management skills of Paul Peschisolido and Gary Rowett will keep the Brewers heading in the right direction.
"The manager and Gary will sit and watch the videos for hours, looking at how we could have done things," he added.
"The coaches have a plan for the lads every day in training and it builds an understanding.
"We all know everything's organised. I've been at clubs where you flick a coin and you don't know what you'll be doing in training every day but you do here.
"We're all really pleased with how it's going."
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