BURTON Albion again papered over the cracks to maintain their impressive League Two record at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.
Billy Kee continued his stunning spell of scoring form to clinch a sixth home win for the Brewers with his eighth goal in as many starts.
But it was a far from convincing display by Paul Peschisolido’s men against a polished Macclesfield Town side forced to play virtually the whole of the second half with 10 men.
Inevitably, the dismissal of Macc halftime substitute Vinny Mukendi only 11 seconds after the restart was the biggest talking point.
The 6ft 6ins striker was summarily red carded after referee Brendan Malone decided he deliberately planted has elbow in the face of Albion defender Ryan Austin as the ball was pumped forward from the kick-off.
The dismissal left Macc boss Gary Simpson suitably angry and perplexed — and the television replay suggested he had every reason to feel aggrieved.
Simpson said: “Vinny had just come on and he was running forward to challenge for a high diagonal ball.
“He was jumping sidewards and won the header. He might have caught the Burton player but there was no intent whatsoever.
“In fairness, the Burton players all said it was never a sending off, and I would have been a bit embarrassed if I had been officiating that game today.” The controversial incident came as something of a blessing for the Brewers — not for reasons of numerical supremacy but because it tended to deflect attention away from a performance that left much to be desired.
Though the display was an improvement on the dismal midweek showing against Aldershot Town, Albion again lacked the craft, guile, energy and tempo evident in the opening weeks of the season.
The visitors gave Peschisolido’s men a lesson in ball possession, passing and movement for the majority of the game and were left to regret their wasteful finishing.
Nathan Stanton returned to Albion’s defence for his first appearance since knee surgery in place of the suspended Tony James, while Andy Corbett was recalled at right-back because of Kevin Amankwaah’s injury.
Jacques Maghoma took over from Jimmy Phillips as Peschisolido looked to inject fresh impetus into the midfield department.
But the pattern was quickly set as a chance fell to Macc inside five minutes from a Sam Wedgbury corner kick.
The lanky Tony Diagne got in a header that dropped for on-loan striker Scott Boden and it took an excellent reflex save from Ross Atkins to keep the Brewers on level terms.
Maghoma had a shot comfortably saved by Jose Veiga, but it was the visitors who had made the better start, with Atkins having to make another save to clutch a Diagne shot.
Albion got the early goal they needed to lift their spirits after looking so out of sorts at Aldershot.
It stemmed from good pressure by Calvin Zola that forced Elliott Hewitt into a rash clearance across the edge of his own area.
The ball fell for Maghoma, whose fierce left-foot shot was parried by goalkeeper Jose Veiga only for Kee to pounce on the loose ball and drill home his eighth of the season.
Yet the lead could have vanished as Albion’s defence disappeared twice in a 10-minute spell.
The Brewers first escape came when the unmarked Ross Draper got a faint touch to a Wedgbury cross to beat Atkins but also the far post.
Worse still was the miss by Boden in the 22nd minute.
Lewis Chalmers picked out the Chesterfield loanee in acres of space 10 yards out and the striker could only hold his head in dismay after pulling his shot wide of a gaping net.
George Donnelly was unable to get enough power on his shot after breaking onto Carl Tremarco’s ball down the line and Shaun Brisley headed too high from a corner kick as Macc continued to look the more dangerous team.
Zola was unable to get enough on Adam Bolder’s cross to trouble Veiga in a rare moment of danger for the visitors as Albion found themselves having to rely mostly on counters attacks.
The visitors changed formation by sending on Mukendi as an extra forward but within 11 seconds they sensationally found themselves down to 10 men.
Despite having the numerical advantage, the Brewers still seemed anything but secure.
Macc wasted another chance to draw level when a Chalmers throw-in from the left ran through to Boden, who could only scoop the ball over as he stretched at the far post.
The visitors dominated possession and passed the ball better, but chances did come Albion’s way as they tried to catch their opponents on the break.
Kee’s low cross from the right found Zola lurking dangerously, but the striker’s first touch let him down and then he appeared to be denied another bite of the cherry by Shaun Brisley’s hand.
The moment the Brewers could have put the game to bed came in the 68th minute.
Skipper John McGrath, recalled to the starting line-up in place of Jack Dyer, threaded a delightful pass into the path of Phillips, who had replaced the ineffective Cleveland Taylor.
Phillips was left with only Veiga to beat as he raced to the edge of the area but contrived to shoot wide of the keeper’s right post.
It could have been a costly miss as Macc continued to make most of the running, but Atkins pulled off another excellent save to deny substitute Waide Fairhurst.
Veiga also made a good stop late in the game to deny Greg Pearson a goal on his return to action, but it was still a hugely flattering victory for the Brewers.
