BURTON Albion continued their pre-season programme with a trip to Devon and suffered their first defeat going down 1-0 at Exeter.
It was a slow start to the game on a balmy evening with the home side looking the most likely to open the scoring.They came closest on 13 mins when Holmes scuffed a low cross wide of Jon McLaughlin's goal.
The home side continued to play a good pressing game putting Albion's backline under pressure on the ball.
It took Albion 22 mins to threaten the Exeter goal but Lucas Akins' low shot was straight at Olejnik.
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The Brewers came closest to scoring on 43 mins when McCrory's enticing low cross just eluded Williamson.Â
But neither team could find an opening in the first 45 minutes.
Half-time: 0-0
Exeter opened the second half brightly and took the lead on 55 minutes when Ollie Watkins found space in the box and hit the ball high into the net giving McLaughlin no chance.
O'Grady turned and vollied in the box but his goal-bound effort was blocked after 65 mins.
On 70 mins the Brewers should have scored. Akins centred and Irvine gets his head on it but it went wide.
Albion looked more lively as the game wore on but finding the equaliser proved elusive.
Irvine got a strong header on a corner after 88 mins but it was straight at the keeper.
Full time: 1-0
Brewers: McLaughlin, Flanagan, McCrory, Turner, McFadzean, Williamson, Palmer, Irvine, Akins, Beavon, O'Grady. Subs: Bywater, Naylor (for Williamson 68), Harness (for Akins 80), Edwards (for McCrory 80), Fox (for Palmer 45), Delaney (for Flanagan 80).
Exeter: Olejnik, McCready, James, Simpson, Holmes,Wheeler, Watkins, Moore-Taylor, Taylor, Brown, Archibald-Henville. Subs: McAllinden (for Watkins 69), Ampadu (for Archibald-Henville 63), Oakley, Jay (for Simpson 69) , Smallcombe, Byrne (for Wheeler 47), Sweeney (for McCready 66), Lowe (for Holmes 66)
Attendance: 768