Tough going but Brewers are worthy of taking a point
BURTON Albion had to fight tooth and nail for a point at home to Cheltenham Town after falling behind in the first half but Lucas Akins’ second-half header secured a 1-1 draw.
In truth, it was mixed performance by the Brewers, who struggled to break Cheltenham down and made too many unforced mistakes but, at the same time, they were good value for the point.
The only change to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s starting line-up was the one forced on him early in the Cambridge United game, with Cameron Borthwick-jackson making his first start of the season after replacing the injured Tom O’connor on Saturday.
Bryn Morris returned for the Brewers on the bench after a knock had kept him out since the first game of the season. Former Brewer Chris Hussey started for Cheltenham, whose captain, Ben Tozer, had signed for big-spending National League club Wrexham during the day.
Jonny Smith started on the left for Burton, having regularly been on the right, and won a corner in the third minute.
After this was cleared, Omari Patrick did well to win the ball back to keep Burton on the attack but he then conceded a foul.
The Brewers’ injury problems hit them again after only seven minutes when Michael Mancienne went down and limped off, to be replaced by Morris.
Cheltenham’s first attempt to get forward in the 10th minute saw Callum Wright caught offside on the right.
The next was more dangerous, with Hussey’s cross from the left deflected goalwards, Tom Hamer heading clear from close to the goalline.
It continued to be Burton making most of the running, though, with Patrick and Akins harrying the defence.
A brilliant pass by Joe Powell sent Smith running through in the 19th minute but Matty Blair was just able to get a touch to deflect his shot away from goal.
Powell, playing on the right, was fouled on the corner of the penalty area after 24 minutes and went for goal with the free kick but Scott Flinders caught it well, to his left.
Cheltenham went straight to the other end and won their first corner, which they worked short on the left, but could not fashion a chance.
Cheltenham took the lead, though, in the 28th minute when Ryan Leak cut out a long ball down the middle but could send it only to Wright, 22 yards out, who had time and space to measure a low shot past Ben Garratt to his left.
The goal certainly rattled Burton, who, for a spell, were trying to do things too frantically and Cheltenham began to pass the ball more fluently than they had at the start.
The Brewers had also switched formations, with Smith back on the right and Akins on the left, back to their usual 4-2-3-1 after starting the game 4-4-2.
Burton needed a spark before half-time and Akins almost provided one after 42 minutes with a good run from halfway which resulted in a corner but nothing came of that.
It was Cheltenham who almost scored again in first-half stoppage time when Liam Sercombe picked up a loose ball on the right and, from a tight angle, forced a sharp block from Garratt at his near post.
Clearly, the visitors were going to be hard to break down in the second half as they protected their lead and the early signs for Burton were unpromising with a series of frustrating mistakes to concede possession.
Cheltenham were doing to Burton what the Brewers so often do to other teams, sitting back behind the ball and giving them no options.
Hasselbaink made a change after 57 minutes, sending on Aaron Amadi-holloway for Patrick.
Cheltenham also made a switch, George Lloyd replacing Andy Williams, just after Akins hit the sidenetting with a decent chance after a pass from Powell in the inside left channel.
Burton were looking better, though, and the equaliser came in the 67th minute after brilliant work by Smith on the right. He kept the ball in near the right corner flag and sent in a superb cross which evaded Amad-holloway six yards out but was headed in by Akins, beyond him at the far post.
In the 71st minute the ball almost fell for Akins when Morris mishit a volley from just inside the box.
There was now a more measured urgency about Burton but also the danger they could be caught on the break and Wright was only inches over with a drive from 20 yards after a corner was played short to him.
Lewis Freestone also glanced a header off target from a right-wing cross after 77 minutes.
Hamer was booked for a foul on the Cheltenham right after 81 minutes and now there was a spell of late pressure from the visitors.
With four minutes left, Danny Rowe was sent on for Morris.
Leak had a shot tipped over by Flinders when Smith’s cross from the right reached him and Brayford got his head to Powell’s corner but his effort was blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled but the meaningful action of the evening had already passed.