AN afternoon of firsts saw the Brewers storm to an emphatic 3-0 away win at MK Dons on a great afternoon for Nigel Clough's side.
A first ever visit to Stadium:MK turned into a fantastic day as Liam Boyce grabbed his first League goal of the season before making it a double in the final minute and Oliver Sarkic curled in a superb first ever League goal to cap a memorable afternoon in Buckinghamshire.
In a town renowned for its roundabouts it was Albion who gave the home side the runaround after seeing off some early threat from Paul Tisdale's side with the Brewers looking a threat almost every time they broke forwards.
Albion returned to League One action showing four changes to the side that returned home without any of the points from Tranmere a fortnight previously. Liam Boyce returned to spearhead the attack flanked by Oliver Sarkic and Nathan Broadhead. John-Joe O'Toole partnered Richard Nartey in the heart of the defence whilst Reece Hutchinson, after a good showing against Everton under-21s in the Leasing.Com Trophy game in the week got the nod at left back. Scott Fraser also provided a boost to the side by declaring himself fit to return to the League starting line-up.
Both sides were keen to make a swift start with Boyce having the first crack at goal after just 40 seconds winning a corner that was eventually fired well over the top by Hutchinson from 25 yards.
The home side were quickly into their stride too with Hiram Boateng looking as though he was clean through on goal until Lucas Akins made up the ground to snuff out any serious goal threat from the midfielder.
An excellent chance came the way of Edwards on seven minutes courtesy of a howler from home keeper Lee Nicholls. There was little in the way of pressure on Nicholls from Dean Lewington's back pass but he skewed it across his goal with Edwards getting there first only to be denied by the keeper getting back across to deflect it just wide.
And it was Edwards again who fluffed his lines on 21 minutes when some neat interplay down the left allowed room to pull the ball back to the Aussie who from around the penalty spot skied his effort.
MK Dons first serious threat to the Burton goal came on 27 minutes when skipper Dean Lewington whipped a cross into the middle for Alex Gilbey, the midfielder getting up well above Richard Nartey but steering his header wide of the target.
But it was Albion who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes. Broadhead swept the ball out to Sarkic on the right and his ball into the middle invited BOYCE to stoop and squeeze a header past Nicholls.
MK thought they were close to an equaliser on 40 minutes when Russell Martin just failed to convert Lewington's free kick but the assistant's flag spared Martin's blushes after he had got his feet in a tangle at the back post.
Nicholls also atoned for his earlier error when he denied Broadhead with a sprawling save as the youngster's shot headed for the far corner of the goal.
Half time: MK Dons 0-1 Burton Albion
Martin was to take no part in the second half as Dylan Asonganyi came on in an attacking move by Dons boss Paul Tisdale.
Nine minutes into the second half and Albion had the second goal they coveted. It owed much to the quick thinking of keeper Kieran O'Hara sending Broadhead away down the left after a Dons attack had broken down. Broadhead motored into the Dons penalty area and found Fraser in support. He in turn spotted SARKIC unmarked on the opposite side of the box and after cutting inside his man the former Leeds youngster curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner.
Needing a goal to get themselves back in the contest the home side had to push forwards and that ultimately left space at the back. Fraser led an excellent breakout that almost Sarkic add a third and Edwards jsut failed to find Broadhead with a pass that would have left the Everton man through on goal.
Asonganyi found space inside the box to fire just into the side netting as the Dons threatened but Albion were quickly back on the attack in an open second half, Boyce tricking his way into a good position before being foiled inside the box.
Albion waited for the last twenty minutes to make their first change with Broadhead making way for former Dons winger Lloyd Dyer.
This was far from game over and Jordan Bowery reminded Albion of that fact when he burst through on goal on 77 minutes but O'Hara stood tall in the Burton goal and made an excellent stop as Clough reminded his troops strongly of the need for defensive concentration from the sidelines.
Dyer almost got on the scoresheet against his former club when Akins led a breakout and picked out his run but Nicholls reacted well to beat away a firmly struck left footer.
Sarkic made way for Joe Sbarra on 84 minutes after the striker had seemingly picked up a slight knock in a 50-50 challenge and the Academy product was quickly involved scampering away down the right and setting Boyce up for a shot that struck a defender.
BOYCE put the seal on an excellent day for the Brewers with the third goal of the afternoon picking up a pass inside the box and having the time and space to turn before firing past a floundering Nicholls.
The margin of victory enabled Clough to give a league debut to Jevan Anderson, the young Scot replacing Reece Hutchinson for the final moments.
Albion were back to winning ways. And in emphatic style too.