Den men put to Sord after Jed sees red

MARVIN SORDELL’S second goal of the season saw Burton Albion beat 10-man Millwall to record their first away league win since April.

A poor contest turned when Lions winger Jed Wallace was shown a red card on the hour for a foul on Tom Flanagan on the halfway line.

The mood of an angry home crowd soured in the 70th minute when Sordell netted with Burton’s first shot of the match, which was enough to lift Nigel Clough’s side out of the bottom three.

Clough said: “We’re extremely relieved. We’ve played much better at home and away and got no points.”

Victory for the visitors was difficult to imagine until Sordell struck.

A change of formation from a 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 did little to alter their woes going forwards for the most part.

With just one goal scored by the Brewers on the road in the Championship before their journey to the Den, and a dismal four shots on target in their previous six away matches, this was another uninspiring display.

Sordell cut a lonely figure up front, continually trying – and failing – to chase down long punts forwards.

But Burton defended manfully – and had the battle scars to prove it, Kyle McFadzean sporting a mask to protect a broken nose, while captain Jake Buxton had his forehead bandaged following a clash with Millwall striker Steve Morison.

Aiden O’Brien and Conor McLaughlin saw first-half efforts blocked for the home side, then O’Brien blazed a first-time effort over the top.

Wallace was sent off for a challenge from behind on left-back Flanagan, the fourth time this season a Millwall player had been sent off.

And they paid the price when Matty Palmer drove a diagonal shot low into the box that was blocked and fell to Sordell. The striker kept his composure to finish.

Millwall boss Neil Harris expressed surprise at the red card for Wallace that turned the game in favour of Burton.

He said: “Jed was late and it was definitely a foul. In the heat of the moment I couldn’t believe it when I saw a red card.”