The Pirelli Stadium is becoming a cursed venue for sides still licking their wounds after Championship play-off disappointment.

Last season, the Brewers beat Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday, two of the three teams to have missed out on promotion from the top six in 2015/16.

Twelve months on, and a similar record is developing, with Wednesday and Fulham - last term's beaten semi-final pair - managing a single point between them so far from trips to Burton.

For Fulham, it was a 2-1 defeat at the Pirelli on Saturday afternoon - a result Nigel Clough ranks right up there among Albion's best since they made the historic step into the Championship.

Stephen Warnock celebrates with his Burton Albion teammates after scoring in the win over Fulham

It is easy to understand why he feels that way given the transformation in performance from his side between this game and the Cottagers' previous visit in February.

That game ended 2-0 to Slavisa Jokanovic's men as they marched inexorably towards the play-offs, with Burton unable to impose themselves on proceedings.

There was to be no repeat in this clash, and that owed much to a finely balanced Albion side that continues to rise to the occasion on home soil against some of the division's best outfits.

The fact that the goals came from Stephen Warnock and Lucas Akins, two players used to playing at opposite ends of the pitch to each other, said a lot about that balance.

Unsurprisingly after the composed display that secured his side a first away point of the campaign at Norwich City in midweek, Clough opted for continuity against Jokanovic's side.

The one change came up front, with Sean Scannell returning from a calf injury to replace Joe Mason.

Scannell partnered Marvin Sordell in a forward two at the top of a 3-5-2 formation, with John Brayford and Warnock the wing-backs either side of Luke Murphy, Jamie Allen and Akins in central midfield.

Jake Buxton, Kyle McFadzean and Ben Turner provided the steel at the heart of the defence, in front of Stephen Bywater - and they were always likely to be called upon regularly in this fixture.

That would come later in the game.

But just as in midweek, the Burton defenders were keen to shut down their opponents before their rivals had the chance to show their creative talents, McFadzean especially standing out as he raced up to shut down the likes of Floyd Ayite and Oliver Norwood as they received the ball with backs to goal.

Sean Scannell looks to beat Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon

Like Leeds United seven days, Fulham looked most dangerous getting in behind, Neeskens Kebano racing clear inside 40 seconds before seeing his cross blocked by Turner, while Ryan Sessegnon - the visitors' best player on the day - found space to volley goalwards, Bywater saving well.

But unlike their Elland Road outing a week before, Burton showed a quality on the ball themselves that kept Fulham honest.

Allen's quick feet earned him space to shoot goalwards inside the first 10 minutes, only for a tame shot to roll into David Button's arms.

That reprieve was a short-lived one for the visitors, although they may not have expected Albion's opener to come from the source it did.

Warnock is a wing-back, though, and Clough wants his wing-backs to get up in support.

Stephen Warnock celebrates his opener against Fulham
Stephen Warnock celebrates his opener against Fulham

That is exactly what the ex-Leeds man did to register his first goal since August 2014, making sure he was on hand to convert the loose ball after Sordell was challenged when Scannell, in behind from Buxton's long ball, had squared for him.

This was much more of an end-to-end contest than last season's two meetings between the clubs, for 60 minutes at least.

It meant the Cottagers picked themselves up and hit back to that Burton opener.

Norwood gave some warning about what was to come when threatening an equaliser from Stefan Johansen's clever cutback. On that occasion, he was put off by McFadzean's diving block and lifted over.

But the scoreboard soon read 1-1 thanks to Norwood.

It was a frustrating goal for Albion to concede, the Fulham midfielder collecting a deflected pass at his feet 20 yards out and having the time to set his sights before drilling a low effort past Bywater and just inside the far post.

Still, Clough would have been giving his half-time team-talk over a one-goal lead had Allen's left-footed shot curled a touch more to nestle inside Button's right-hand post moments later.

Oliver Norwood of Fulham fires in the Cottagers' equaliser against Burton Albion
Oliver Norwood of Fulham fires in the Cottagers' equaliser against Burton Albion

Instead, it struck the woodwork to set the game on a knife edge for the start of the second 45.

Much of the Brewers' trouble in losing to Fulham back in February came from struggling to get any sustained periods in possession.

That may have been the case later in the game here, but they crucially seized the initiative straight after the break and nudged themselves into the lead again.

Scannell had already had a promising near-post effort saved by Button when McFadazean was felled to see Albion awarded only their third Championship penalty in 54 outings.

It did not look clear-cut on first viewing or after several replays, with Kevin McDonald and Sessegnon both challenging the Brewers centre-back but with no major contact seeming to have been made.

Given the calls that have gone against Burton in this area over recent months, though, it was hard to argue against them deserving some good fortune in the penalty stakes.

Whether lucky or not, Akins wasn't going to hang around, stepping up to slot the spot-kick home through Button, who perhaps should have done better.

Lucas Akins slides home from the penalty spot for Burton Albion against Fulham

Burton did not shut up shop from there, with Sordell firing just off target as they looked to stretch their lead.

But we were unlikely to see Clough's side stretch themselves too much once in front. They proved time and again last season how well built they are for such situations.

With the three central defenders in solid form - a testament to the growing understanding between them - Fulham's best hopes for an equaliser came down either flank.

Bywater commanded his box well to thwart most of the crosses whipped in from out wide. His form since coming in for the injured Jon McLaughlin back in April has been impressive.

Blocks and clearing headers were in evidence again too to keep Fulham at bay.

When a chance did fall to a Fulham man, though, Jokanovic's side proved profligate.

Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo had the best of those, a low ball from the left fizzed into his path, six yards out and with the goal gaping. His first-time effort crashed back off the crossbar.

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic greets Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic greets Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough

That was as close as they would come, with Burton holding firm to make sure of a second league win of the campaign.

Having lost their first three Championship games this season, Albion have since lost only one of their six subsequent matches in all competitions since the 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on August 16.

That is some valuable momentum heading into Wednesday's Carabao Cup trip to Manchester United, and with another two home games to come from their next three league outings

The Pirelli is proving itself a tough nut to crack again.