A second successive home league win for the Brewers saw Nigel Clough's men rack up a 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon.
Stephen Quinn's superb volley on 34 minutes set the tone after the Brewers had dominated much of the early play giving them something for their efforts but after the visitors had spurned several good chances to equalise, second half goals from David Templeton and captain on the day, Liam Boyce capped a good performance for the Brewers with a clean sheet to match.
The starting line-up for Albion showed three changes to the side that started against and beat Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. Having only signed on Friday morning from Premier League Chelsea there was a debut for goalkeeper Brad Collins in place of Stephen Bywater. Jamie Allen returned in midfield having served his one match ban in midweek. Having been an early substitute in the Cup win, Marvin Sordell also started. Injuries and the suspension of Kyle McFadzean meant a makeshift back four as Ben Fox slotted in at right back and Lucas Akins showed his versatility being deployed alongside Ben Turner at centre back.
David Templeton had the first real shot in anger having been picked out by Allen and cut inside to fire a low effort straight at Tom King who saved with relative comfort inside the first two minutes.
It was a bright start from the Albion winger and on six minutes he was causing problems out on the left with a fizzing cross that went very close to goal, just eluding Boyce steaming in at the back post.
Collins showed his versatile range of kicking to send a long range free kick right to the feet of Templeton on 12 minutes allowing him to fire in another wicked low centre that was just cleared off Boyce's toe at the near post. The winger was proving a real problem for and a lobbed ball over the top for Boyce to run on to gave the Brewers top scorer a run in on goal but his attempted lob as King advanced made it just too awkward and his effort just missed the target.
Fraser tried his luck from a free kick when Boyce was bundled over but could only hit the wall, the Scot then finding himself allowed to run through before sliding an angled effort just wide of the upright as Wimbledon backed off.
Wimbledon were starting to find their feet and Scott Wagstaff presented Collins with his first real test, a raking drive from fully 30 yards proving to be easy enough for the Chelsea loanee to deal with.
Albion's approach play continued to be neat and tidy with the finishing touch just eluding them on several occasions. Allen had a good chance to test King from the edge of the box but, off balance, skied his effort.
It all came good for Albion on 34 minutes as QUINN bagged his first Brewers goal. Boyce showed plenty of industry to bustle his way into the box and see a close range effort blocked out, coming back for the former Eire midfielder to set himself and volley into the far corner from the edge of the box.
The goal seemed to stir Wimbledon up and they spurned two excellent opportunities to equalise as Albion momentarily switched off. Full back Tennai Watson burst into the box and squared for Kwesi Appiah whose effort was deflected up onto the crossbar and as the Brewers struggled to clear effectively the striker was at the back post to head a deep cross back across goal rippling the top of the net.
The visitors finished the half on the attack with a dangerously positioned free kick but the set piece only found the head of Albion's tallest defender, Ben Turner who confidently headed clear to signal the referee's whistle for the break.
Half time: Burton Albion 1-0 AFC Wimbledon
Wagstaff had an early chance to try and bring the Dons back on level terms with a shot on the turn from just inside the box but his effort was too high as Collins watched it go safely over his bar.
The visitors continued to look bright at the start of the second half and fortunately for Albion, Akins was in the right place at the right time to deflect Pigott's shot wide of the target before the Wombles striker headed into the ground and over the bar from close range.
It proved to be a costly miss as Albion doubled their advantage on 54 minutes. Defender Will Nightingale found himself hustled out of possession inside his own box by Boyce and the striker intelligently found TEMPLETON who set himself before curlinga low effort around King and in off the post.
Quinn made way after another impressive contribution to enable Albion fans to see Southampton loanee Jake Hesketh make his first appearance in a Burton shirt.
On the hour it was Albion with a three goal lead. Templeton and Fraser combined superbly on the left hand side of the Burton area for the former to pink the ball beyond the keeper and when it bobbled out, there was BOYCE to finish it off.
Albion continued to press forwards, not content with just the three goals and left back Reece Hutchinson almost got in on the act skewing a shot wide after a great overlapping run.
Substitute Jake Jervis tested Collins with an angled drive before Pigott saw another searing shot blocked inside the box by Hutchinson who had got back well to resume defensive duties.
Albion also introduced Devante Cole in place of Templeton to give the visitors something else to think about. Wimbledon though continued to press looking for the smallest incentive to try and get back into the game. The physical presence of James Hanson caused problems inside the Burton box but nothing seemed to be falling for the visitors who saw several efforts blocked or end up in the waiting arms of Collins. Pigott also missed another good opportunity after Andy Barcham headed the ball down, the striker poking a low shot wide of the target.
Hanson struck for goal on 86 minutes but was wide of the target after a quick break out of midfield, summing up the visitors disappointing day in front of goal.
On a day when the Brewers were only able to field one fit, experienced defender, the clean sheet was just as welcome as Albion's first three goal haul of the season.
The starting line-up for Albion showed three changes to the side that started against and beat Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening. Having only signed on Friday morning from Premier League Chelsea there was a debut for goalkeeper Brad Collins in place of Stephen Bywater. Jamie Allen returned in midfield having served his one match ban in midweek. Having been an early substitute in the Cup win, Marvin Sordell also started. Injuries and the suspension of Kyle McFadzean meant a makeshift back four as Ben Fox slotted in at right back and Lucas Akins showed his versatility being deployed alongside Ben Turner at centre back.
David Templeton had the first real shot in anger having been picked out by Allen and cut inside to fire a low effort straight at Tom King who saved with relative comfort inside the first two minutes.
It was a bright start from the Albion winger and on six minutes he was causing problems out on the left with a fizzing cross that went very close to goal, just eluding Boyce steaming in at the back post.
Collins showed his versatile range of kicking to send a long range free kick right to the feet of Templeton on 12 minutes allowing him to fire in another wicked low centre that was just cleared off Boyce's toe at the near post. The winger was proving a real problem for and a lobbed ball over the top for Boyce to run on to gave the Brewers top scorer a run in on goal but his attempted lob as King advanced made it just too awkward and his effort just missed the target.
Fraser tried his luck from a free kick when Boyce was bundled over but could only hit the wall, the Scot then finding himself allowed to run through before sliding an angled effort just wide of the upright as Wimbledon backed off.
Wimbledon were starting to find their feet and Scott Wagstaff presented Collins with his first real test, a raking drive from fully 30 yards proving to be easy enough for the Chelsea loanee to deal with.
Albion's approach play continued to be neat and tidy with the finishing touch just eluding them on several occasions. Allen had a good chance to test King from the edge of the box but, off balance, skied his effort.
It all came good for Albion on 34 minutes as QUINN bagged his first Brewers goal. Boyce showed plenty of industry to bustle his way into the box and see a close range effort blocked out, coming back for the former Eire midfielder to set himself and volley into the far corner from the edge of the box.
The goal seemed to stir Wimbledon up and they spurned two excellent opportunities to equalise as Albion momentarily switched off. Full back Tennai Watson burst into the box and squared for Kwesi Appiah whose effort was deflected up onto the crossbar and as the Brewers struggled to clear effectively the striker was at the back post to head a deep cross back across goal rippling the top of the net.
The visitors finished the half on the attack with a dangerously positioned free kick but the set piece only found the head of Albion's tallest defender, Ben Turner who confidently headed clear to signal the referee's whistle for the break.
Half time: Burton Albion 1-0 AFC Wimbledon
Wagstaff had an early chance to try and bring the Dons back on level terms with a shot on the turn from just inside the box but his effort was too high as Collins watched it go safely over his bar.
The visitors continued to look bright at the start of the second half and fortunately for Albion, Akins was in the right place at the right time to deflect Pigott's shot wide of the target before the Wombles striker headed into the ground and over the bar from close range.
It proved to be a costly miss as Albion doubled their advantage on 54 minutes. Defender Will Nightingale found himself hustled out of possession inside his own box by Boyce and the striker intelligently found TEMPLETON who set himself before curlinga low effort around King and in off the post.
Quinn made way after another impressive contribution to enable Albion fans to see Southampton loanee Jake Hesketh make his first appearance in a Burton shirt.
On the hour it was Albion with a three goal lead. Templeton and Fraser combined superbly on the left hand side of the Burton area for the former to pink the ball beyond the keeper and when it bobbled out, there was BOYCE to finish it off.
Albion continued to press forwards, not content with just the three goals and left back Reece Hutchinson almost got in on the act skewing a shot wide after a great overlapping run.
Substitute Jake Jervis tested Collins with an angled drive before Pigott saw another searing shot blocked inside the box by Hutchinson who had got back well to resume defensive duties.
Albion also introduced Devante Cole in place of Templeton to give the visitors something else to think about. Wimbledon though continued to press looking for the smallest incentive to try and get back into the game. The physical presence of James Hanson caused problems inside the Burton box but nothing seemed to be falling for the visitors who saw several efforts blocked or end up in the waiting arms of Collins. Pigott also missed another good opportunity after Andy Barcham headed the ball down, the striker poking a low shot wide of the target.
Hanson struck for goal on 86 minutes but was wide of the target after a quick break out of midfield, summing up the visitors disappointing day in front of goal.
On a day when the Brewers were only able to field one fit, experienced defender, the clean sheet was just as welcome as Albion's first three goal haul of the season.