Burton Albion v Southend
TEAM NEWS: Burton Albion boss Paul Peschisolido handed striker Adi Yussuf his full debut for the visit of Southend United to the Pirelli Stadium as he reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.
There was one change in the back four from Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Swindon Town, with Aaron Webster returning at left –back after missing four games with a hamstring injury.
Callum Driver dropped to the bench with Andy Corbett retaining his place at right-back.
In midfield, skipper John McGrath missed out after picking up an injury in midweek, so Adam Bolder and Jack Dyer were in the centre, with Cleveland Taylor and Jimmy Phillips operating wide.
Yussuf partnered Justin Richards up front.
Reserve team striker Evan Garnett was named amongst the substitutes.
There was no Jacques Maghoma, Billy Kee, who is out for the season, Calvin Zola, Lee Lucas or Patrick Ada.
Southen included Cameron Belford in goal, who is on loan from Bury and is the son of former Gresley Rovers keeper Dale.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Corbett, James, Stanton, Webster; Taylor, Bolder (capt), Dyer, J Phillips; Richards, Yussuf; subs: Driver, Palmer, Austin, Gurrieri, Garnett.
SHRIMPERS (4-4-2): Belford; Clohessy, M Phillips, Barker (capt), Hills; Sawyer, Grant, Timlin, Martin; Harris, Sampson; subs: Prosser, Bentley (gk), Benyon, Baldwin, Flood.
HALF-TIME: Yussuf had a great chance to open the scoring after just three minutes.
Phillips charged down a clearance and the ball fell to the striker, who found himself in behind the defence and bearing down on goal, but his first touch was poor and the ball ran through to Belford.
With neither side able to get on top, the visitors produced their first chance in the 31st minute.
Left winger David Martin whipped over a free-kick from the right which striker Neil Harris flicked on.
The ball came off centre-back Tony James, who was facing his own goal and keeper Ross Atkins had to tip it away from under the crossbar.
Harris went closer two minutes later when right winger Lee Sawyer’s far-post cross found the striker.
He tried to plant a header into the far corner, but Atkins flung himself to his left to turn it away.
At the other end Phillips had a chance on 41 minutes after good work by Richards and Yussuf, but he fired into the side netting from just inside the area to the left.
However, the Shrimpers went straight down the other end and as Albion failed to clear their lines, the ball found its way to midfielder Michael Timlin who, from the left of goal fired a shot across Atkins and just wide of the far post.
Burton responded and Yussuf created space in the penalty area, but his shot was well blocked by Belford.
Webster then drilled a shot straight at Belford as the Brewers ended the half strongly.
BURTON ALBION 0, SOUTHEND UNITED 0
FULL TIME: The Brewers were forced to make a change at the start of the second half, with Ryan Austin replacing Nathan Stanton, who had picked up an injury.
The Brewers had a big penalty shout on 51 minutes after Cleveland Taylor had done brilliantly to get past two defenders near the right by-line.
He pulled the ball back for Richards, who went down under a challenge from Shrimpers skipper Chris Barker, but the referee waved play on.
The visitors had two chances inside 60 seconds soon after, with Atkins scooping out a shot from Sawyer he knew very little about then dealing more comfortably with an effort from midfielder Anthony Grant which was straight at him.
The visitors did break the deadlock on the hour as they caught Albion asleep.
After Jack Dyer had fouled Grant the home side took an age to get organised and Martin took full advantage, firing a quick free-kick from 25 yards into the net.
It could have been 2-0 on 66 minutes but after striker Jack Sampson had headed down a Martin cross, Harris fired into the side netting.
Peschisolido made a change on 74 minutes, replacing Adam Bolder with Chris Palmer.
However, it was 2-0 less than 60 seconds later.
Grant tried his luck from the edge of the area and although Atkins got down well to push the effort out, Harris was all alone to slam home the rebound.
There was a glimmer of hope for the Brewers on 85 minutes when Corbett found Yussuf, but his shot on the turn was turned around the post by Belford.
BURTON ALBION 0, SOUTHEND UNITED 2
