THREE goals in seven first half minutes swept the Brewers to an impressive 3-1 victory over in-form Bolton Wanderers

The game against League One's in-form side looked a daunting task on paper as Albion headed into the game looking for a first home victory since New Years Day.

But a barnstorming first eighteen minutes saw Albion race into a 3-0 lead as Joe Powell stole in at the back post to fire home from close range to set Albion on their way before a brace of headers from skipper John Brayford effectively took the game away from Wanderers.

The only blot on the Albion copybook was not getting a much deserved clean sheet, substitute Dion Charles finding an accurate finish in the fourth minute of added on time to squeeze the ball between Ben Garratt's outstretched hand and the crossbar for a consolation effort.

Christian Saydee was handed a first Brewers start against the Trotters as the Burton starting line-up showed three changes from the team that drew with Cambridge United at the weekend. The Bournemouth loanee came in to replace Louis Moult, still being eased back into the side, although the summer signing missed out on the bench with a minor problem picked up in the build up to the game. Michael Mancienne came in for Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, out due to concussion picked up at the weekend and William Kokolo, after scoring his first Brewers goal returned at left wing-back in place of Frazer Blake-Tracy who was back on the bench.

After both sides spent the first ten minutes sparring and sounding each other out it was Albion who struck on eleven minutes to grab the lead through a trademark long throw from Bolton-born Tom Hamer. Conor Shaughnessy got the all important flick on about twelve yards out and POWELL stole in at the back post to sweep home.

Three minutes later and Albion were two to the good. This time it was Powell with the delivery and assist, his corner curling to the back post where BRAYFORD rose to steer a header in off the underside of the crossbar.

And the skipper was at it again four minutes afterwards. Another Powell corner went to the back post and this time Sam Hughes was able to lob it towards the opposite side of the goal where BRAYFORD was waiting to steer his header inside the post.

A shell-shocked Wanderers tried to get themselves going and Ben Garratt was forced into a smart save standing tall to deny Amadou Bakayoko from an angled drive, Albion's defenders hurriedly clearing the danger as the visitors reminded the Brewers that the game was far from early at this early stage of the proceedings.

And Garratt was exactly where he needed to be when Kieran Sadlier lined up a centrally placed free-kick just outside the box, the Burton keeping getting down well to his right to push the ball away from danger.

The game settled down for a spell although Bolton continued to press for the goal that might signal the start of a comeback but with a couple of minutes to half time Kyle Dempsey, a deadline day signing from Gillingham, could only blaze his effort over the bar.

Half time: Burton Albion 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

The second half was three minutes old when referee Scott Oldham temporarily paused play whilst medical staff from both clubs went to assist with a medical emergency in the crowd. When play resumed four minutes later Albion had a corner and only a scramble on the line prevented Albion from adding to their lead and Gassan Ahadme quickly had a fiercely driven low cross hacked away from danger.

Sadlier was on set piece duty again on 58 minutes and this time, from further out than before he curled an effort over the wall and not far wide of the target. The former Rotherham man then set up Jon Dadi Bodvarsson but great anticipation from Brayford ensured that his shot was blocked.

The visitors were cranking up the pressure on the hour mark and Bakayoko managed to steal in between Shaughnessy and Garratt to hook the ball towards the target but thankfully Hughes was in the right place to make sure it was cleared before a white shirt could get on the end of it.

Bolton blinked first in terms of substitutions bringing on the in-form Dion Charles on 66 minutes in a swap with Bakayoko in the striking department and soon after Charles was joined by leading scorer Dapo Afolayan as Wanderers looked for some crumb of hope.

Giant defender Ricardo Santos got up well at the back post as Bolton threatened on 75 minutes bot Garratt stretched above his head to pluck the ball out of thr air.

Albion made a change with twelve minutes of normal time to play, Ryan Leak replacing Michael Mancienne who was on a yellow card from early in the second half. Leak dropped into the back three allowing Shaughnessy to step forward into midfield.

With the game four minutes into seven minutes of added time CHARLES grabbed a consolation for Ian Evatt's side latching onto a long ball and steering a lobbed effort over Garratt and under the crossbar.

ALBION: Garratt; Hughes, Brayford, Shaughnessy; Hamer, Mancienne (Leak, 78), Gilligan, Kokolo; Powell (Maddox, 86); Ahadme (Taylor, 90), Saydee.
Substitutes: Kovar, Chapman, Blake-Tracy, Lakin.

GOALS: ALBION - Powell (11), Brayford (14, 18) ; BOLTON - Charles (90+4)

Referee: Scott Oldham

Attendance: 3,487