Nigel Clough says there is a lesson to be learned from Burton Albion's home victory over Birmingham City last season - and their start to the new campaign.

The Brewers secured their fourth win of 2016/17 when they downed former boss Gary Rowett's Blues at the Pirelli Stadium on a Friday night in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Lloyd Dyer got the opener with a delightful finish, before Jamie Ward made sure of the points by volleying home after the break.

But despite it being one of Albion's standout performances in a memorable season, he recalls that it was not plain sailing from kick-off, and his side did well to make sure they grabbed the opening goal.

And having seen his players beaten by Hull City and Middlesbrough in the last week, the Burton manager believes that is something his team did against the Blues last October that they have been unable to prevent so far this term.

"It's funny, because I thought in the first 15 minutes, we couldn't get the ball off Birmingham," said Clough when recalling that win over the Blues at the Pirelli last term.

"They didn't really have chances, but they created situations and you think after minutes, 'here we go, if it's like this all game...'

Lloyd Dyer bends home Burton Albion's opener against Birmingham City in 2016/17

"But then we didn't concede, and you work your way back into the game.

"That's been the thing in the last couple of games - when we've been on top, we've conceded.

Burton Albion players after the 4-1 loss to Hull City
Burton Albion players after the 4-1 loss to Hull City

"Certainly at Boro, we started the game well, then first attack, they scored.

"Second half, it's us again, then first attack after a couple of deflections and they score.

"So I think it's about not conceding that first goal.

"There was a statistic that when we scored the first goal last season, we never lost a game.

"That's how important the first goal is."