TEAM NEWS: Top scorer Justin Richards was ruled out with a back injury as Burton Albion welcomed Bristol Rovers to the Pirelli Stadium.
Richards’ absence for the first time this season saw Billy Kee come in to partner Calvin Zola up front.
The only other change to the line-up from the 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Cheltenham Town saw Aaron Webster return at left-back in place of Danny Blanchett, who did not even make the bench.
Midfielder Jacques Maghoma returned after missing three games through injury to be named amongst the substitutes.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Amankwaah, James, Austin, Webster; Taylor, Bolder, McGrath (capt), Phillips; Zola, Kee; subs: Poole (gk), Corbett, Palmer, Yussuf, Maghoma.
PIRATES (4-3-1-2): Bevan; Woodards, Bolger, Sawyer, Brown; Stanley, Campbell, Gill; Rendell; Harrold, McGleish; subs: Carayol, Anthony, Anyinsah, Zebroski, Norburn.
HALF-TIME: After a cagey opening, the visitors created the first half-chance on 12 minutes when Scott Rendell, playing just behind the front two, saw his shot blocked by Webster after neat play with strikers Matt Harrold and Scott McGleish.
Indeed, the Pirates broke the deadlock four minutes later.
Midfielder Craig Stanley whipped over a free-kick from the left to the far post and Harrold rose to power a downward header into the opposite corner of the net.
The visitors had another chance on 22 minutes when Rendell played a great ball through to McGleish, who had sprung the offside trap.
He probably had more time than he thought inside the box to the left of goal and dragged a shot well wide of the far post on the turn.
The Brewers got back on level terms out of nowhere really on 27 minutes.
Taylor was fouled outside the area to the left and whipped over the free-kick himself.
His cross was headed clear, but winger Jimmy Phillips played it out to right-back Kevin Amankwaah.
His cross was touched out by a defender, but only as far as Taylor on the edge of the box and he rifled a right-foot shot into the bottom near corner.
The Brewers were in front 10 minutes before the break and the provider again was Amankwaah.
Phillips played the ball out to him and he advanced down the right before firing in a low cross which was met first time by Kee, who swept the ball in at the near post.
BURTON ALBION 2, BRISTOL ROVERS 1
FULL TIME: The Brewers were the first to threaten at the start of the second half.
Five minutes in and Taylor whipped in a corner to the near post and Zola’s header was inches wide of the target.
The visitors had a chance six minutes later from a free-kick which was chipped into the box, but Harrold could not get enough power on his header and Brewers keeper Ross Atkins saved low down.
The Brewers possibly should have been 3-1 up on 61 minutes when skipper John McGrath sent a corner from the right to the far post.
Central defender Ryan Austin arrived at pace but failed to keep his header down and it cleared the bar.
Peschisolido made his first change on 66 minutes, with Maghoma on for Taylor.
The hosts went close again on 71 minutes when Zola controlled superbly on the right touchline, beating left-back Lee Brown, and slipped a ball through to Maghoma, who fired wide of the far post from a tight angle.
Tony James had to receive treatment after going down following a collision with Harrold and Atkins, but he was able to carry on.
Just after Maghoma had dragged a shot wide following a great passing move, Chris Palmer replaced Kee with three minutes to go.
Deep into stoppage time, the visitors had a last chance from a corner but Webster flung himself in the way of Rendell’s shot.
BURTON ALBION 2, BRISTOL ROVERS 1
