ALBION suffered a first round defeat in the Carabao Cup as two late goals saw League Two Rochdale through to the second round at the Crown Oil Arena
There was little to choose between the two sides who both showed plenty of endeavour throughout the game without having the quality in the final third to make a breakthrough.
But with less than five minutes to go a run into the box by Abraham Odoh saw him brought down to give James Ball the chance from the penalty spot to unlock the game and the Rochdale midfielder finished comprehensively. As The Brewers pushed for an equaliser to try and take the game to penalties the home side countered at speed and Devante Rodney made sure it was the home side who progressed with a low finish.
Albion showed five changes from Satruday's League One defeat to Bristol Rovers. Most notably, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink handed a debut to on-loan Aston Villa goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and Calum Butcher made his first start since returning to the club last month. Further up the pitch Joe Powell and Gassan Ahadme returned with Charlie Lakin selected for the first time this season in a left-hand side role.
Both sides started off looking to improve from a pair of opening defeats and it was Albion forcing the first save of the game after ten minutes, Jonny Smith, operating more centrally, slipping Davis Keillor-Dunn in on the right hand side for a shot that was shovelled around the post by Rochdale keeper Cieran Slicker.
Rochdale had struggled to get in behind the Burton defence but a direct run from deep by defender Femi Siriki resulted in the first serious test of Sinisalo as the Finnish keeper got the faintest of touches to ensure to Siriki's shot to give away a corner.
Siriki was causing problems again just before the half hour point threatening to dart into the box before he was brought down by Powell at the expense of a yellow card.
The home side were exerting some pressure and they went close to breaking the deadlock again on 32 minutes, Tyrese Sinclair flashing a shot across the face of goal before striker partner Rodney let fly from thirty yards with a raking shot that had Sinisalo at full stretch as it flew wide of the target.
Gassan Ahadme had been struggling for several minutes with a whack picked up in a challenge and he eventually succumbed to it and had to be replaced just before half-time with Victor Adeboyejo brought on as a straight replacement.
Half time: Rochdale 0-0 Burton Albion
The home side had the first chance of the second period with Rodney getting into a dangerous position inside the box but seeing a Burton boot deflect his dipping effort wide of the far post.
Rodney then brushed off challenges from Butcher and Powell to run clean through on goal on 54 minutes but making himself big as he advanced from goal Sinisalo was more than a match for the striker before Sinclait blazed the loose ball wide of goal.
Tom Hamer's deep cross on the hour mark had Slicker at full stretch and the on-loan Manchester City keeper appeared to be struggling to continue for a short while before he was replaced in goal by the experienced Richard O'Donnell. Albion also opted for a couple of changes with Tyler Onyango and Quevin Castro sent on for Lakin and Powell.
Sinclair squandered another good opportunity for the hosts on 77 minutes, breaking through the offside trap to move close in before lifting his shot over the bar.
Albion's final two changes saw Terry Taylor and Louis Moult come on to try and make a breakthrough, Butcher and Smith making way for the final ten minutes of normal time.
Rochdale were awarded a penalty on 85 minutes when the tricky Abraham Odoh was brought down by Keillor-Dunn and BALL made no mistake from the spot.
With seven minutes added there was still a glimmer of hope for Albion but when RODNEY burst clear in the fourth added minute the striker made no mistake slotting the ball home into the far corner.
ALBION: Sinisalo; Hughes, Brayford, Borthwick-Jackson; Butcher (Taylor, 80); Hamer, Powell (Onyango, 66), Keillor-Dunn, Lakin (Castro, 66); Ahadme (Adeboyejo, 43), Smith (Moult, 80).
Substitutes: Garratt, Oshilaja, Gilligan, Williams.
GOALS: ROCHDALE - Ball (86 pen), Rodney (90+4)
Referee: scott Oldham
Attendance: 1,601 (110 away)