TEN-man Albion dug in for a hard-earned point on the road with a goalless draw at Cambridge United.
The Brewers had to play the last 26 minutes of the game a man down after Steve Seddon was booked twice in a minute but defended resolutely to keep out a U’s side that had won four of their previous five home games.
Chances were at a premium with Albion having two long range efforts from Joe Powell and a well hit volley from Mark Helm to show whilst Max Crocombe was rarely seriously tested asd the Brewers back line headed and kicked the ball away from danger on multiple occasions to deny the hosts clear chances to score.
After the win against Charlton Athletic last week, it was an easy decision for boss Martin Paterson to name an unchanged side, despite three new loan signings in the week. Crystal Palace striker Ademola Ola-Adebomi started on the bench alongside fellow new recruits Tolaji Bola and Jonathan Leko, signed from Rotherham United and MK Dons on loan.
After a slightly disrupted start due to an early injury for U’s striker Lyle Taylor it was the home side who created the first real opening on five minutes. Danny Andrew was able to advance from left back and deliver a telling cross that was met by the head of Elias Kachunga with the striker not quite timing it right and sending it harmlessly wide.
Steve Seddon then put the ball into the Cambridge net, but referee Ed Duckworth pulled play back for a foul in the build-up.
It was a half where Cambridge enjoyed the lion’s share of the ball but struggled to break down a resilient Brewers defence. The experienced Taylor had a half chance as the ball bounced around inside the box, but his header was parried away by Max Crocombe before the Burton defence were able to scramble the ball away from danger.
Albion were struggling to create clear chances, but joe Powell had a sight of goal five minutes before the break but having cut inside he flashed the ball wide from 25 yards out.
With haldf time approaching the Brewers were indebted to the skipper as Kachunga found space on the right and his cross was fired towards Taylor until Brayford made a vital interception.
The final meaningful action of the half came from Albion as the ball bounced around the edge of the Cambridge box and came out to Helm to hit a first-time volley that went straight at Jack Stevens in the home goal.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-0 BURTON ALBION
Albion reappeared for the second half having made two changes with Bola and Leko on for their debuts in place of Jake Caprice and Joe Hugill. The two immediately combined when Bola, operating on the right chipped a teasing cross into the six-yard box where Leko challenged Stevens, injuring himself in the process. It proved to be a short-lived appearance for the new signing who, after trying to run off his knock, ultimately succumbed just five minutes in and had to be replaced by Ola-Adebomi.
The opening stages of the half were already proving to be more open than the first period, but the game started to turn against Albion when Seddon picked up two quick-fire yellow cards to reduce themselves to ten men.
Cambridge fashioned a good chance for themselves on 74 minutes when Mustapha Carayol, on for Helm, brought Liam Bennett down on the right-hand side close to the penalty area. Cambridge resisted the chance to load the ball into the area, instead laying the ball back into the patch of substitute Jack Lankester who drilled a low shot a matter of inches wide through a crowded penalty area.
Things did not look good when Brayford threw himself in to make a decisive block on the edge of the box and stayed down. Clearly in pain the skipper required attention before resuming to lead the defensive rearguard.
Powell fizzed another speculative effort wide just as the board went up from the fourth official signalling that Albion had nine more minutes to hold out.
The home side piled on the pressure looking for a late winner but once Crocombe clung on to Adam May’s late effort referee Duckworth brought the game to a close and Albion had clung on for a precious point.
ALBION: Crocombe; Moon, Brayford, Sweeney; Caprice (Bola, 46), Oshilaja, Powell, Helm (Carayol, 69), Seddon; Hugill (Leko, 46, Ola-Adebomi, 50)), Bennett.
Substitutes: Blackman, Harper, Chauke.
Referee: Ed Duckworth
Attendance: 6,755 (214 away)