Burton Albion v Dagenham & Redbridge
TEAM NEWS:
BURTON Albion boss Paul Peschisolido handed striker Justin Richards his first start since returning from a back injury as the Brewers hosted League Two bottom side Dagenham & Redbridge.
Richards partnered Calvin Zola up front with leading scorer Billy Kee, back from a groin problem, forced to settle for a place on the bench.
The return of Richards was one of four changes to the starting line-up from the previous week’s 3-0 defeat at Crawley Town.
Dropping out of the side were centre-back Tony James, who picked up a groin injury in training, and the midfield trio of Chris Palmer, Andres Gurrieri and Jimmy Phillips, who dropped to the bench..
Skipper John McGrath came back into the side, along with winger Cleveland Taylor and centre-back Nathan Stanton.
For the first time this season, there was no goalkeeper on Albion’s bench.
Dagenham included former Gresley Rovers striker Brian Woodall in their starting line-up.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Amankwaah, Austin, Stanton, Webster; Taylor, Bolder, McGrath (capt), Maghoma; Zola, Richards; subs: Corbett, Palmer, Phillips, Gurrieri, Kee.
DAGGERS (4-4-2): Lewington; Rose, Doe (capt), Spillane, Ilesanmi; Woodall, Maher, Ogogo, Gain; Scott, Montano; subs: Nurse, Geohaghon, Bingham, Hogan Cunnington.
HALF-TIME: The game started in a downpour and the opening minutes were cagey, but it was the visitors who created the first half-chance, with midfielder Kevin Maher firing well over on the half-volley after a cross from the left had been headed clear by Brewers centre-back Ryan Austin.
The Brewers created their first chance on 13 minutes when, breaking from the back, right-back Kevin Amankwaah fed Taylor, who cut in from the left but fired a weak shot straight at visiting keeper Chris Lewington.
Woodall went close three minutes later when he let fly from the right corner of the penalty area, with his effort deflected off a defender just wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Taylor whipped in a left-footed cross from the left which was inches too far in front of the stretching Zola.
The visitors could have broken the deadlock on 22 minutes but Cristian Montano’s shot crept just the wrong side of the far post with Brewers goalkeeper Ross Atkins stranded.
The Daggers took the lead in the 26th minutes after Adam Bolder had fouled Woodall 30 yards out in the centre of the goal.
Centre-back Michael Spillane stepped up and curled a superb effort into the near top corner.
It was almost 2-0 on 33 minutes as a great ball by Woodall found Montano near the left by-line.
He crossed to the far post, where striker Josh Scott saw his volley blocked by a scrambling Atkins on the line.
BURTON ALBION 0, DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1
FULL TIME: The visitors had the first chance of the second half when Scott turned Stanton too easily midway inside Burton’s half.
He advanced before firing in a low shot which was tipped round the post by Atkins.
However, the Brewers drew level on 53 minutes when Taylor sent over a corner from the left to the far post and Zola rose to send a downward header across goal and into the corner.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men when midfielder Abu Ogogo was sent off for a late challenge on left-back Aaron Webster which sparked a mass brawl, initiated by Stanton, for which he received a yellow card.
Peschisolido made his first change on 70 minutes, with Kee replacing Taylor as went with a front three.
The Brewers were almost in front on 76 minutes when Kee fizzed in a low cross from just inside the penalty area on the right.
Zola slid in at the far post and got a toe to it, but his effort came back off the post.
Burton’s second change came on 82 minutes, with Gurrieri on for Richards.
BURTON ALBION 1, DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1
