ALBION'S seven game unbeaten run came to an end as MK Dons recorded their first ever win over the Brewers in a tight 2-1 finish.
The Dons looked well in control at 2-0 just after the hour mark as Scott Fraser returned to haunt his former club from the penalty spot and Warren O'Hora headed home from a scramble in the box but Lucas Akins penalty had Albion right back in the game in the closing stages and they almost nicked a point in stoppage time with both Hayden Carter and Mike Fondop going close.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's team selection showed just the one change from the side that picked up a good point at Blackpool in midweek. Terry Taylor was reinstated to the midfield after making his full debut away at Crewe ensuring that the starting eleven was the same as the side that took to the field at Gresty Road for an impressive 3-0 away win.
In tricky looking windy conditions the visitors opted to try and use the elements to their advantage in the first half switching ends at kick off and they had the first real chance eight minutes in when a spell of pressure saw a cross from Matt O'Riley fizzed across where Harry Darling met it but was unable to keep his header down.
And the Dons were pressing again moments later with a cross to the back post that was headed dangerously back into the six-yard box with Michael Mancienne anticipating the danger and clearly his lines.
But the pressure told for Russell Martin's side ont he quarter of an hour mark when Tom Hamer was adjudged to have handled a cross under pressure from Fraser and the former Albion midfielder stepped up to score from the spot although Ben Garratt was agonisingly close to keeping it out.
Cameron Jerome thought he had doubled the visitor's lead on 21 minutes seemingly getting to the ball a split second before Garratt on the edge of the box but referee RosS Joyce penalised him for a high boot much to Albion's relief.
Albion began to boss the game for a period but struggled to seriously test Andrew Fisher in the MK goal, Taylor driving an effort well wide from 25 yards before Hamer landed a left foot cross onto the roof of the net.
Sean Clare picked up the first yellow card of the game five minutes before the break when his mistimed challenge on O'Riley right in front of the dugouts.
Albion almost got themselves back on level terms just before the break when a booming Taylor free kick into the box got a faint touch from Brayford with Fisher having to improvise a punched clearance as he readjusted his position on the post.
Hasselbaink had an important team talk at the break to get Albion back on track. Not much in the first half but Albion needed to improve in the final third.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-1 MK Dons
The second half was four minutes old when Albion spurned their best chance yet to equalise. Jonny Smith did well down the right to dig out a right foot cross picking out Lucas Akins in the middle, Fisher making a smart save from his shot.
High pressing forced an error from Fisher moments later as a poor back pass was hacked against Smith, the ball rebounding wide of the target.
For all Albion's early second half pressure they found themselves a second goal behind on the hour mark as MK Dons struck from a corner. The defence struggled to clear the ball amidst a seried of headers and O'HORA was the man to get the vital one that diverted it into the back of Garratt's goal.
Albion called Joe Powell from the bench to replace Clare to avoid him picking up another booking with both Hayden Carter and Kane Hemmings also walking the yellow card tightrope.
Albion had a lifeline with fifteen minutes remaining when AKINS converted from the spot, the forward played Hamer in on the left and he was felled in the box by Ethan Laird giving the long serving Brewers forward his ninth goal of the season.
The Brewers applied heavy pressure late on in search of an equaliser with Carter hooking the ball over from the edge of the six yard box from a Hamer long throw deep in stoppage time.
Substitute Fondop also saw a late header go straight into the gratefully waiting clutches of Fisher with the last chance of the game.