ALBION suffered defeat for the second home game in a row as Sheffield Wednesday grabbed the points thanks to goals from George Byers and substitute Sylla Sow
Albion battled hard but once Wednesday went in front, arguably, against the run of play through Byers capitalising on a loose ball in the Burton box it was an uphill task for the Brewers after that as Darren Moore's side gradually took control and eventually grabbed a second with just under ten minutes remaining, Sow getting a touch to Barry Bannan's drive to divert it in and make all but sure of the points for the play-off chasing visitors.
Burton had chances to score but Harry Chapman was denied an equaliser by the legs of Wednesday keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell whilst substitute Christian Saydee was denied a debut goal by the post last on as Albion chased a consolation.
The recall of Daniel Jebbison back to Sheffield United necessitated one change in the Brewers line-up with Louis Moult, after his substitute appearance last week given a starting role up front. Chapman, fresh on his return on loan from Blackburn Rovers was pushed forward to support Moult as Gassan Ahadme dropped to the bench. Jacob Maddox also returned in midfield in place of Ciaran Gilligan who dropped to the bench.
Wednesday began brightly and a dangerous delivery from skipper Barry Bannan found the head of Callum Paterson the box but his header was just over the bar.
Albion started to grown into the game with Chapman looking dangerous and only a header on the stretch from Jordan Storey stopped a teasing cross reaching the head of Moult looking to pounce eight yards out.
With a blustery wind and bobbly pitch making flowing football difficult it was Albion, with the wind at their back s who enjoyed the majority of possession and territory in the opening half hour without seriously troubling Irish international keeper Peacock-Farrell.
Wednesday began to adapt and a strong run forwards from Jack Hunt almost picked out Paterson in the middle, Ben Garratt smothering at the feet of the striker. And Wednesday's improvement was rewarded on 32 minutes, BYERS reacting quickest when Garratt blocked Natahniel Mendez-Laing's cross at the near post and the midfieder snaffled the rebound to slam the ball home.
Albion almost suffered a hammer blow of going in two down at the break on the stroke of half time when a corner from the left was turned goalwards at close range and the Albion stopper made an excellent save with his feet to deny the visitors.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday came out and dominated the early moments of the second half, Mendez-Laing's explosive pace almost getting him in down the left with only a timely intervention from Hughes preventing his cross reaching Paterson bursting forwards in support.
And Wednesday continued to look the more purposeful, now with the conditions in their favour, midfielder Massimo Luongo twisting and turning in the box before firing over the bar from twelve yards juts before the hour mark.
Albion then suffered an injury blow as Deji Oshilaja looked to sprint out of defence and immediately clutched his hamstring before coming off to be replaced by Cameron Borthwick-JAckson. At the same time Louis Moult took his leave of proceedings, the fresh legs of Gassan Ahadme introduced into the attack.
Referee Alan Young produced quick-fire yellow cards for Luongo and Garratt as the game cranked up a notch. Luongo scythed down Ahadme as he looked to race away and Garratt brought Mendez-Laing down wide out of the left as he Burton keeper raced out to clear a long ball with the Wednesday man getting there a plit second before the Albion man.
Garratt then kept Albion in it with a smart save to push away a low driven cross from Marvin Johnson with Sow beaten to the loose ball by Will Kokolo.
Albion had their best chance so far when Chapman found himself through and with only the keeper to beat but his shot was block by the legs of Peacock-Farrell on 77 minutes.
Saydee was thrown on for his debut with juts over ten minutes remaining but before he could really get into the game Albion found themselves two goals down when Bannan was afforded too much time to turn in the box and his low drilled effort unerringly found the corner of the net thanks to touch from SOW.
Albion almost made it a grandstand finish when Saydee smashed an effort against the post after being played in by Ahadme and with eight minutes added on by referee Young there was potentially still time for a comeback but despite a couple of scrambles in the Wednesday box Albion could not get a goal back.
ALBION: Garratt; Hughes, Brayford, Oshilaja (Borthwick-Jackson, 63); Hamer, Shaughnessy, Maddox (Saydee, 79), Kokolo; Powell; Chapman, Moult (Ahadme, 63).
Substitutes: Kovar, Borthwick-Jackson, Ahadme, Saydee, Gilligan, Mancienne, Lakin.
GOALS: WEDNESDAY - Byers (32), Sow (81)
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 4,763