A stunning 3-2 victory over Championship promotion chasers Nottingham Forest sent Albion through to the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time in their history on a thrilling night in front of the TV cameras at the Pirelli Stadium.
All the goals came in the second half as Albion raced into a two goal lead just after the hour mark with Scott Fraser the instigator, his shot taking a decisive deflection off Forest defender Saidy Janko to loop over keeper Luke Steele before Fraser lashed home a second to Albion dreaming of the history.
Lewis Grabban's instinctive finish halved the deficit before Jake Hesketh, for the second week running, produced a stunning finish to restore Albion's two goal advantage,
Substitute Arvin Appiah set up a close finish scoring at the second attempt from close range but Albion were not to be denied their moment of destiny.
Both Fraser and David Templeton returned to the starting line-up along with Ben Fox as Albion shuffled their pack with a quarter-final place at stake. Also returning to the side was former Forest keeper Dimitar Evtimov who came in for Brad Collins to take on his former employers. With both recognised left backs unavailable through injury Nigel Clough sprung something of a surprise by naming former Forest youth trainee Kieran Wallace, on the bench with the player having signed on non-contract terms on Monday.
A cagey opening saw both sides taking a somewhat cautious approach but it was Forest with the first real opening when michael Dawson headed a corner over the bar after Kyle McFadzean had skewed Hillal Soudani's low cross over his own bar.
Albion quickly responded with their first attempt on goal with Templeton disappointed to see a tame right foot show blocked at the near post having been played in on the left by Liam Boyce.
The game soon began to open up and Diogo Goncalves sent a curling effort over Evtimov's crossbar after Forest had cut out Fraser's attempted crossfield ball towards Templeton. The best chance yet came to Boyce on 19 minutes, Albion patiently working the ball out wide on the left and Fraser crossing in low for the Brewers top scorer to force a save from Luke Steele at his near post.
Burton's first touch was proving to be a little too heavy at times allowing their Championship opponents to close them down and push them back but when Boyce had a sight of goal on 29 minutes his rasping effort was saved by Steele who then got up quickly when Templeton was first to the rebound to deny the Scot moments later.
And Albion were handed a penalty on 31 minutes as Albion broke again with purpose. Hesketh nicked the ball away on the right and burst forward sending in a low cross to the edge of the area for Jamie Allen. Liam Bridcutt slid in and took out the midfielder with referee John Brooks having no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Boyce stepped up but got too much behind it and sent his effort over the bar.
It was a let off for Forest and they almost made Albion pay a heavy price with Goncalves forcing Evtimov into a save low to his left at the end of a swift break.
Boyce was guilty of a miss again on 38 minutes when Fraser managed to slip him in, a tame left foot effort giving Steele the opportunity to save comfortably at his near post.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Michael Dawson was in referee Brook's with barely two minutes of the second half gone. The experienced centre back got drawn out to make a challenge on Boyce but mistimed it and found himself the first to receive a yellow card.
It was not long before Forest had their clearest chance of the evening as midfielder Gil Dias burst through evading the challenge of Ben Fox and rounding Kyle McFadzean before seeing Evtimov stand tall to deny him at close range.
It was a crucial miss for the visitors as Albion surged up the pitch to grab the lead. Jamie Allen took advantage of the space that opened up in front of him to race into the Forest half and set up FRASER who wheeled away in delight as his deflected effort arced over Steele into the top corner after taking a decisive touch off defender Saidy JANKO.
Forest tried to crank up the pressure and Dawson was frustrated to see a flicked header from a corner drop onto the roof of the net as they went in search of an equaliser.
By this time the visitors had been forced into a change with Algerian striker Hillal Soudani forced off to be replaced by Lewis Grabban.
As Forest pushed forwards in search of the goal to give them parity them left themselves somewhat open at the back and when Boyce tried to turn and shoot on the edge of the box the ball squirted out to his left for Fraser to burst into the box untracked and fire beyond Steele at his near post.
Nerves were jangling with twenty minutes remaining as Forest halved the deficit through GRABBAN. Dias provided the forward thrust through midfield evading the attentions of Stephen Quinn to slip in the striker who fired unerringly into the corner beyond Evtimov for his ninth goal of the campaign.
It was all set for an exciting finish but HESKETH's superb volley on 83 minutes from Fraser's cross gave Albion their two goal cushion back.
With Fraser struggling to continue late on Albion sent on JAke Buxton to try and shore things up in the middle of the park and it was all set for a nervy period of added on time when substitute Arvin Appiah reduced the arrears again firing home at the second attempt from close range.
Six minutes of added on time were not enough to deny Albion another history making result. The quarter finals of the League Cup await for the first time in Albion's history.