A goalless stalemate at the Pirelli Stadium as the Brewers and Scunthorpe cancelled each other out in a close fought game.

Scott Fraser was denied by an excellent save from Iron keeper Jak Alnwick at the death to sum up a frustrating afternoon in front of goal where defences, in the main were on top although it was the visiting keeper who had most to do with some important stops to deny Albion from making it four straight home league victories.

With Kyle McFadzean free from his midweek suspension in the Carabao Cup Nigel Clough reverted to the side that won the last league game at the Pirelli against Sunderland.

For two sides in such good form in the league it was a rather scrappy start to the game with both sides pumping long balls forward which were food and drink to the respective goalkeepers. Scott Fraser worked room for the first meaning ful shot on seven minutes after ex-Albion midfielder Matty Lund had been hustled out of possession but the Brewers man saw a scuffed effort from outside the box dribble wide of the target. It was the signal for a period of Albion pressure and a neatly worked corner from the right almost saw McFadzean net for the second home league game in a row only for his flicked effort to sail over the bar.

Scunthorpe at times were struggling to clear their lines effectively and when Albion enforced a high press it forced another mistake leading to a spell of possession that resulted in Templeton whipping in a curling effort that required the fingertips of keeper Jak Alnick to see it safely over the crossbar.

Lund found himself in referee Peter Wright's book for a strong challenge on Quinn as both tussled for possession in the middle although the official waited until Albion's swift couter attack before producing the card.

The former Brewers man thought he had given the visitors the upper hand moments later as a corner from the left wasnt cleared properly before the referee spotted a foul, blowing his whistle just before Lund let rip with a shot from just inside the box.

Marvin Sordell inadvertently set up another chance for United trying to find his keeper from inside his own box only for Lee Novak to nip in but fortunately Evtimov was advanced enough off his line to block at close range.

Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo followed Lund into Mr Wright's book as he challenged for a ball with McFadzean on half way and followed through as the Albion man just nicked the ball away in front of him.

Albion were continuing to look the more attacking side and Boyce finally got a sight of goal on 32 minutes after a through ball from Fraser but his angled effort towards the far corner was not far enough away from Alnwick allowing the keeper to save to his right.

Another effort from Lund forced Evtimov into a good save low to his right and Novak was once again sniffing for the loose ball with Albion managing to recover and get the ball away from danger via Quinn's intervention and it was soon Albion back probing for openings in the Scunthorpe box as Allen lifted a shot over the bar after showing good footwork on the edge of the area to create the chance as Sordell picked him out from wide out.

Damien McCrory became the first Albion name in Mr Wright's book for unceremoniously halting Ryan Colclough's raid towards the box in added on time but Josh Morris was unable to make anything from the resulting set piece as the first period, after a slow start finished goalless.

Half time: Burton Albion 0-0 Scunthorpe United

James Perch's robust challenge on Templeton got the second half underway as Albion looked to press from the start and a purposeful run through the middle from Fraser was snuffed out on the edge of the box as Cameron Burgess got back in time to prevent him getting a left foot shot away.

Ugbo was forced off through injury early in the second period meaning the introduction of former Mickleover Sports striker Andy Dales as a straight replacement in attack.

Lund almost produced the fated goal from the ex player on 57 minutes with a towering header above McCrory that left Evtimov clawing the ball away from the top corner at the expense of a corner. After a clumsy foul on Boyce in the centre circle the ex-Brewer was on a final warning from Mr Wright and Stuart McCall opted to bring on James Horsfield as a substitute to minimise the risk of going down to ten men.

Dales was denied just a second goal for Scunny on 66 minutes when a corner was knocked back into the six yard box. The strikers touch and finish were assured but the offside flag rendered the goal worthless.

Albion made their first change on 68 minutes with John Brayford sent on at right back to allow Lucas Akins to push on to the right side of midfield.

Akins got forward well on 75 minutes chasing the ball into the channel and getting into the box but from an acute angle out on the right he lifted his shot high and wide across the goal.

Boyce showed good skill to wriggle away from the attentions of Charlie Goode on 77 minutes before smashing in a thunderous shot that Alnwick had to use his agility to beat away at his near post.

Both McFadzean and Turner saw towering headers from corners cleared inside the last ten minutes as the Brewers continued to push for the win before Fraser also picked up a yellow card for a tangle with Colclough as United looked to counter through the middle.

Alnwick produced another impressive save as the game ticked into added on time to deny Fraser and when Quinn was bundled over just outside the box it was Fraser again with the free kick that disappointingly failed to force Alnwick into a save.