Over the past few years, Burton Albion have emerged from non-league obscurity to a second tier side playing such giants as Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Just eight years ago, even the most optimistic Burton fan wouldn't have asked for much more than consolidation in the Football League after eventually winning a historic promotion from the Conference to League Two.

Their meteoric rise has been extremely impressive given their lack of funds too.

The gulf between Burton's financial position and that of Newcastle, Leeds, Aston Villa and Norwich, for example, is astonishing.

Many people tipped Burton Albion for relegation before the season started; already writing them off due to their lack of experience at this level and their financial restrictions.

But people need to cast their minds back to opinions of Burton Albion at the start of the 2015/16 season.

The Brewers were not expected to fare very well in League One after finally sealing promotion from the fourth tier.

The step up in standard was thought to be a difficult challenge and pundits were tipping them to finish anywhere between mid-table and the relegation zone.

However Albion defied the odds again to gain back-to-back promotions and were actually cruising to the league title before some iffy late form saw them sneak in via the second automatic spot.

Burton were not the most talented outfit in the league by any stretch; they had a very average squad in fact, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink set a game plan.

Burton used to line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with a tight-knit squad who all worked hard for the cause.

The defence was narrow and extremely hard to penetrate; the midfield was compact and energetic.

Burton played on the counter attack and hit teams by moving the ball very quickly from back to front, like a lower-league Leicester City circa 2015/16.

When Hasselbaink left for QPR, Nigel Clough kept this basic formula and philosophy which was the platform for their success.

This season, the Brewers seem to have abandoned that somewhat and they look more vulnerable and prone to conceding.

And they haven't added more potency as a trade-off.

If Clough goes back to the basics and deploys that 4-1-4-1 formation which proved so tough to break down in the second tier, then they will pick up more points in the second tier and stay up.

Burton fans - do you agree with this? What tactics should you use? Let us know in the comments below...