THE Brewers were hit with an inury before the game even started - Chris O'Grady pulled up during the warm-up so he was repalced by Stuart Beavon whilst Ben Fox moved onto the bech.
Norwich are one of the favourites to go straight back up to the Premier League this season after facing relegation last season but the game started with a slow pace and Burton looked comfortable on and off the ball and actually had the first real opportunity of the game. Hamza Choudhury had plenty of space in the middle of the park which he used to pick our Lloyd Dyer down the left who drove into the box and cut onto his right foot before unleashing an effort towards goal which just crept over Michael McGovern's cross bar.The home side found the rhythm of the game some 20 minutes in as they zipped the ball quickly on the edge of the 18-yard box but Hamza Choudhury did brilliantly to close down Robbie Brady who saw his shot blocked by the Leicester City-loanee.
GOAL: The home side grabbed the game with both hands and started to take control and they took the lead just before the half hour mark through Martin Olsson. He was found in too much space in the box before being allowed to turn and pick out the top corner with his left foot (1-0).
The Brewers were hit with another injury just before the half time whistle as John Brayford seemed to pull his groin so he was replaced by Tom Flanagan.
Norwich could have been two up by half time but for the tight angle of Jerome's effort. The striker chased down a ball which seemed to be heading to McLaughlin but it was just inches outside the box so Jerome nicked the ball but the angle was too tight to convert it into the back of the net.
Half time: Norwich City 1-0 Burton Albion
GOAL: Burton Albion equalised 40 seconds into the second half as Lloyd Dyer saw his shot blocked in the box, Hamza Choudhury won the header before Lucas Akins turned the ball over the line (1-1).
GOAL: Just a minute after Akins equalised for Burton it was the home side that re-took the lead through Jacob Murphy. He played a neat one-two on the edge of the box with Cameron Jerome before shooting at goal but his original shot was going wide before it took a deflection off John Mousinho and found its way into the bottom corner (2-1).
Burton could have been back level ten minutes after Norwich's second goal as Jamie Ward pinched the ball some way out before knocking it past the defender, then the goalkeeper then he pulled it bakc across goal but it was behind Stuart Beavon and the home side managed to clear.
Jamie Ward was replaced by Will Miller with just over 15 minutes to play.
Albion's task to get a second was made a little harder when Tom Flanagan was shown a second yellow card for a handball inside the area, the home side were awarded a penalty. Robbie Brady steped up and went low to McLaughlin's right but it was SAVED!
Norwich piled on the pressure against the ten men of Burton Albion as Pinto drilled a ball in from the right which was met cleanly by Olsson but his effort crept just wide of the left-hand post.
Stuart Beavon was replaced by Shaun barker with minutes of the game remaining.
GOAL: The home side wrapped the game up on 89 minutes as Pinto found space down the right to cut inside and lash the ball into the roof of McLaughlin's net (3-1).
Full time: Norwich 3-1 Burton Albion
Attendance: 26,104
Ash's man of the match: Matty Palmer