Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Burton Albion v Cardiff City.
The Brewers welcome old boss Neil Warnock back to East Staffordshire for the final pre-season test of the summer following yesterday's news that Tuesday night's friendly against Matlock Town has been cancelled .
Cardiff, now in the Premier League of course, will offer Nigel Clough's side a final stern test before they open their League One campaign against Rochdale on Saturday (3pm).
We'll get one last glimpse of Clough's Brewers before the fun starts again for another season, and we'll have live coverage from team news to post-match reaction with live updates in-between.
We want to hear your thoughts, contact Richard on Twitter here and Facebook here , or leave us a comment below.
Key Events
That's all!
Thank you for following our LIVE coverage this afternoon.
Here are the highlights from the Brewers’ match at the Pirelli Stadium today:
- Match report
- What Nigel Clough hopes Burton Albion can find in time for season opener against Rochdale
Till the next time!
Nigel Clough's reaction
He wants the Brewers to sharpen up their act before Rochdale come to town on Saturday...
Here’s what he told me after the game today...
One positive from today...
Great to see Liam Boyce get on the score sheet this afternoon, hopefully plenty more to come throughout the season.
How the match unfolded
Burton Albion slumped to a 5-1 defeat to Cardiff City at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.
The Brewers’ final pre-season game, following the cancellation of Tuesday night’s planned clash with Matlock Town, gave Nigel Clough more to ponder ahead of Saturday’s League One opener against Rochdale (3pm).
Liam Boyce opened the scoring from the penalty spot but the Bluebirds, managed by ex-Albion player and manager Neil Warnock, showed why they finished second in the Championship last campaign.
Goals from Kenneth Zohore, a Jake Buxton own goal, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Bobby Reid and Calum Paterson sealed a comfortable win for City.
Full-time!
A valuable run out for the Brewers against Premier League opposition.
Reaction to come.
Match action
McCrory booked
For a crunching tackle on Mendez-Laing. Possibly borne out of frustration as the forward scampered away along the byline.
Peltier is back up
That’s great to see - but he’s not able to carry on with Josh Murphy replacing him.
Ouch!
Liam Boyce and Lee Peltier collide head-first while challenging for a high ball. Boyce is up but Peltier is still down.
Nice move from Cardiff
Mendez-Laing puts McCrory on his backside and then finds Hoilett out wide, who slips in Reid - but he’s offside.
Subs en masse for Cardiff, with Reid, Gunarsson, Zohore, Morrison, Cunningham leaving the pitch.
Joe Bennett, Bruno Manga, Calum Patterson, Loic Damour and Gary Madine come on.
GOAL!
Cardiff go 4-1 up on 56 minutes. Bobby Reid shook off Ben Turner’s advances and pounced on a long ball, rolling it past Bywater with ease.
Well defended
Bobby Reid does well to spin on the spot and direct an effort on goal from Sean Morrison’s flick-on - but it’s deflected out for a corner which is subsequently cleared.
First Burton action of note for a while
Boyce picks the ball up in the Cardiff box and fires a left-footed cross low along the box toward the back post - but it’s cleared.
Another chance!
Zohore beats Ben Turner for pace following a long ball, and leaves him in a sprawling heap but makes a hash of his chance, firing over Bywater and out for a goal-kick.
Cardiff come again
This time it’s a speculative effort from Bobby Reid, who hits a dipping shot from the right-hand side.
Chance!
Almost straight from kick-off Cardiff advance down the left-hand side and Hoilett crosses in - Zohore goes close once again, scooping an effort from inside the box just over.
Half-time!
Reflections at half-time:
Lund looked a man possessed for the first 15 minutes.
Burton were fast out the blocks and good value for their lead.
Cardiff’s Premier League quality, and a sprinkling of luck, means they lead 3-1 at the break.
WHAT A STRIKE!
Mendez-Laing hits an absolute stunner past Bywater into the top-right corner of the Brewers’ net.
He picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable effort - I hope someone’s video’d that!
3-1 to Cardiff on the stroke of half-time.
GOAL!
Cardiff are now 2-1 up thanks to Kenneth Zohore, who nets once again at the Pirelli Stadium.
The striker was slipped in behind from Joe Ralls and shrugged off Ben Turner’s challenge before coolly slotting home past Stephen Bywater.
40 minutes played.
GOAL!
Jake Buxton turns in under pressure from Sol Bamba after Hoilett’s free-kick from just in front of the dugout.
1-1.
Chance!
Matty Lund fires high and wide from a free-kick around 25 yards from goal after Junior Hoilett brought down Damien McCrory.
Well defended
Aron Gunnarsson finds Nathaniel Mendez-Laing with a nice through ball but Damien McCrory does well to deal with the danger and divert the ball away.
