Nigel Clough made three changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers at the Pirelli Stadium over a week ago.
In came John Brayford, Lloyd Dyer and Jackson Irvine to replace Tom Naylor, Michael Kightly and Matty Palmer respectively.Bristol City have been on a poor run of late, but they got off to the fastest start at Ashton Gate as Aaron Wilbraham's header fell kindly into the path of Lee Tomlin who hit a shot on the volley but the effort crashed back off the crossbar.
Marvin Sordell was deployed in a wider position than he might be used to at Ashton Gate, but he looked effective as a right winger and he had Burton Albion's best chances in the first half. He recieved the ball out wide before driving towards the 18-yard-box and unleashing a powerful effort but Fabian Giefer was equal to it to turn it round the post.
Lloyd Dyer looked to make an impression after being recalled to the team as he played a neat one-two pass with Cauley Woodrow inside the area but Dyer's second touch towards goal was a little heavy which allowed Giefer to rush off his line and deny him at his feet.
HT: Bristol City 0-0 Burton Albion FC
Neither team made any changes at the break.
There's no doubt that Burton Albion should have been ahead just after the hour mark when John Brayford broke into the box before pulling it across to Lloyd Dyer who was waiting at the back post unmarked but he got it wrong and his effort rolled wide of the post.
Bristol City were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes when John Mousinho was judged to have dragged down Aden Flint inside the box, but justice was probably done when Lee Tomlin stepped up and blazed the spot kick well over the crossbar.
Luke Varney has been close to another start for the Brewers, but he came off the bench with just under 15 minutes to play as he replaced Lloyd Dyer.
Bristol City had picked up David Cotterill after the turn of the new year, and he nearly caught out Jon McLaughlin with a clever free kick which he bent towards the top corner from a tight angle, but the Albion stopper did well to claw it away from danger.
The home side had a much superior height advantage and they made use of that from corner kicks, and they would have been ahead in the final minutes if it wasn't for first Luke Varney but then Tom Flanagan who both made goal line clearances.
FT: Bristol City 0-0 Burton Albion FC
Attendance: 17,914 (560 away)
Ash's man of the match: Lasse Vigen Christensen