Burton Albion 2-0 Birmingham City

Lloyd Dyer's goal was his first for Burton since mid-August, when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1

Burton Albion scored a goal in each half to deservedly win their first competitive meeting with Birmingham.

The visitors, managed by former Burton boss Gary Rowett, pinned the Brewers back in the opening exchanges.

But Jackson Irvine then tested Blues keeper Adam Legzdins before former Birmingham loan signing Lloyd Dyer put Burton ahead with a superb finish.

Jamie Ward volleyed the second, before skipper Michael Morrison headed Blues' best chance wide from a late corner.

Burton's second victory in nine league games lifts Nigel Clough's side six places to 13th in the Championship, while Birmingham remain fifth after only their third defeat of the season - but their second on successive Fridays.

The home side initially struggled to get out of their own half, creating their first clear chance when former Burton keeper Legzdins used his legs to deny Irvine after former Aston Villa trainee Ward flicked on.

Northern Ireland international Ward then provided the pass for 34-year-old Dyer to run onto, and he gave the Blues keeper no chance with the outside of his left foot.

Ward forced Legzdins to a smart near-post save after outsmarting Ryan Shotton, but benefitted from a marginal offside decision to drive home the second as Burton made it six games unbeaten in matches played on Friday evenings.

Burton's Tom Naylor was one of six players shown yellow cards during the game

Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:

"Quite often this season we haven't got what we deserved but tonight we could have won by more than two. That is the next stage for us, to really get the results that our performances deserve.

"Psychologically, it is important for us to try and stay out of the bottom three if we can. It is going to be a battle to do that but nights like tonight undoubtedly help.

"Jamie Ward has made one and scored one. That is what we brought him in for - that little bit of quality. The balance between him and Chris O'Grady is important.

"Chris is working his socks off up there. He is such a great team player and appreciated by everyone in the dressing room."

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett told BBC WM:

"We were very poor but Burton thoroughly deserved it. They showed a bit more energy and drive on a difficult evening for us.

"Derby and Sheffield Wednesday have found out the hard way here too. Nigel has got a good side, who play with real forward impetus and quality. They'll turn a lot of teams over here, playing like that.

"For the first 15 or 20 minutes, the game panned out how we wanted and we exploited the spaces. But then they got back into it, worked what we were doing and started to pin us back with their wing-backs.

"After that we didn't play with anywhere near enough quality. We're going to have to be a lot better than that against Aston Villa next week."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Burton

• 1McLaughlin
• 3Brayford
• 5McFadzean
• 6Turner
• 10AkinsBooked at 29mins
• 15NaylorBooked at 41minsSubstituted forWilliamsonat 88'minutes
• 16PalmerSubstituted forChoudhuryat 90+3'minutes
• 36IrvineBooked at 45mins
• 11Dyer
• 12WardSubstituted forMillerat 81'minutes
• 8O'Grady

Substitutes

• 4Mousinho
• 7Williamson
• 13Bywater
• 18Miller
• 19Choudhury
• 22Myers-Harness
• 25Barker

Birmingham

• 1Legzdins
• 23Spector
• 28Morrison
• 5ShottonBooked at 69mins
• 3GroundsBooked at 62mins
• 6Kieftenbeld
• 8Gleeson
• 11CotterillSubstituted forDonaldsonat 57'minutes
• 26DavisSubstituted forAdamsat 57'minutes
• 19MaghomaBooked at 36minsSubstituted forStewartat 68'minutes
• 15Jutkiewicz

Substitutes

• 4Robinson
• 9Donaldson
• 10Fabbrini
• 14Adams
• 18Brown
• 20Stewart
• 29Kuszczak

Referee:

Tim Robinson

Attendance:

5,818

Match Stats

Home TeamBurtonAway TeamBirmingham

Possession

Home47%

Away53%

Shots

Home15

Away7

Shots on Target

Home5

Away1

Corners

Home2

Away4

Fouls

Home14

Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Burton Albion 2, Birmingham City 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Burton Albion 2, Birmingham City 0.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt blocked. Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Che Adams.

Posted at 90'+3'

Offside, Birmingham City. Maikel Kieftenbeld tries a through ball, but Lukas Jutkiewicz is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+3'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+3'

Substitution, Burton Albion. Hamza Choudhury replaces Matthew Palmer.

Posted at 90'+1'

Delay in match Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) because of an injury.

Posted at 90'

Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Chris O'Grady (Burton Albion).

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lee Williamson with a headed pass.

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Burton Albion. Lee Williamson replaces Tom Naylor.

Posted at 85'

Attempt missed. Tom Naylor (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Jackson Irvine with a headed pass following a set piece situation.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City).

Posted at 84'

Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City).

Posted at 84'

Chris O'Grady (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 81'

Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Chris O'Grady (Burton Albion).

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Burton Albion. Will Miller replaces Jamie Ward.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Greg Stewart with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Clayton Donaldson.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Lucas Akins with a cross.

Posted at 78'

Attempt blocked. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Greg Stewart (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 76'

Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by John Brayford (Burton Albion).

Posted at 75'

Attempt missed. Chris O'Grady (Burton Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jamie Ward.

Booking

Posted at 69'

Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City).

Posted at 69'

Jamie Ward (Burton Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Birmingham City. Greg Stewart replaces Jacques Maghoma.

Posted at 68'

Offside, Burton Albion. John Brayford tries a through ball, but Chris O'Grady is caught offside.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City).

Posted at 66'

Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 65'

Che Adams (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Tom Naylor (Burton Albion).

Posted at 64'

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Lloyd Dyer.

Booking

Posted at 62'

Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.

Goal!

Posted at 62'

Goal! Burton Albion 2, Birmingham City 0. Jamie Ward (Burton Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by John Brayford with a headed pass.

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