Burton Albion v Aldershot
TEAM NEWS: Burton Albion caretaker manager Gary Rowett made three changes for the visit of Aldershot Town following the previous week’s 7-1 drubbing at Bristol Rovers.
Aaron Webster returned from injury in place of Danny Blanchett at left-back, while Jack Dyer replaced Patrick Ada having overcome a knee problem.
Up front, Greg Pearson came in for Justin Richards, who was absent following the death of his mother.
There were places on the substitutes’ bench for caretaker assistant manager and goalkeeper Kevin Poole and striker Adi Yussuf.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Corbett, Stanton (capt), Austin, Webster; Maghoma, Bolder, Dyer, Phillips; Zola, Pearson; subs: Poole (gk), James, Palmer, Yussuf, Taylor.
SHOTS (4-4-2): Young; Herd (capt), Jones, Brown, Straker; Molesley, Morris, Vincenti, Hylton; Madjo, Risser; subs: Mekki, Bergqvist, Clement, Roberts, Payne.
HALF-TIME: It was the hosts who were first to threaten on two minutes when Jacques Maghoma slipped in Webster, whose cross was blocked.
The ball fell back to Maghoma on the edge of the box to the left of goal, but he blazed over.
However, the visitors went straight back up the other end and forced Ross Atkins into the first save of the game.
The ball fell to Wilko Risser just outside the penalty area and although his effort was straight at the Brewers keeper, it had sufficient swerve on it to force Atkins to palm it over the bar.
The Brewers had a chance on eight minutes when Maghoma’s free-kick from just outside the box clipped the wall and dropped nicely to Pearson.
The striker tried to flick the ball past Shots keeper Jamie Young, who did very well to block the effort.
However, the visitors went in front on 16 minutes when a free-kick was swung in from the right.
The ball dropped to Risser, who had a shot blocked, but Albion failed to clear when they had chances to midfielder Peter Vincenti pounced to slot the ball past Atkins.
The Brewers had what appeared a good penalty shout on 19 minutes when Pearson turned Troy Brown in the area and seemed to be tripped by the centre-back, but the referee waved play on.
The Brewers had a half-chance on 31 minutes when right-back Andy Corbett’s long throw was flicked on by Calvin Zola to midfielder Adam Bolder, but his header lacked sufficient power to trouble Young.
The visitors had a chance on 35 minutes, but striker Danny Hylton’s 20-yard free-kick from the left of goal curled inches past the post.
Two minutes later at the other end, Bolder flung himself at Dyer’s near-post corner but his header was always too high.
BURTON ALBION 0, ALDERSHOT TOWN 1
FULL TIME: The Brewers were the first to threaten in the second half.
On 51 minutes, Webster slipped a ball through to Pearson inside the box to the left of goal, but he dragged his shot into the side netting.
The Brewers were forced into a change on 57 minutes after Nathan Stanton had taken a Danny Hylton shot full in the face from point-blank range. He was replaced by Tony James.
The hosts doubled their lead on 61 minutes through more slack defending.
Webster tried to run the ball out of play near the corner flag but Mark Molesley kept it in.
Striker Guy Madjo failed to get on the end of his cross, but the ball came out to Aaron Morris, whose far-post cross was headed home by Risser.
Albion’s second change came on 66 minutes, with Yussuf on for Pearson.
However, it was 3-0 on 76 minutes, with Madjo sliding home left-back Anthony Straker’s low cross following a good run. However, the Brewers felt winger Jimmy Phillips was fouled in the build-up.
It got worse for the Brewers on 82 minutes when Jack Dyer lost possession and one ball released Madjo.
Atkins did well to save his initial effort, but the striker simply nodded home the rebound.
A rare Albion chance came on 89 minutes when Corbett crossed from the right, but Zola’s far-post header was wide of the target.
BURTON ALBION 0, ALDERSHOT TOWN 4
