Burton Albion Football Club

Pre Season action from the Pirelli Stadium

Burton Albion welcomed Championship neighbours Derby County to the Pirelli Stadium as the Brewers pre-season preparations continued apace. The match was won by a superb solo effort from summer signing Michael Jacobs early in the second half for the Rams. The former Northampton man carrying the ball from the half way line before placing a low curling shot past Ross Atkins in the Albion goal.

Gary Rowett included triallists Lee Bell and Dele Adebola in the starting XI with strikers Matt Patterson and Brett Williams on the bench.

Former Brewer John Brayford started for the Rams with Jake Buxton on the bench.

Derby created the first real opportunity of the match in the eigth minute when Nathan Tyson's shot inside the area was deflected on target by Damien McCrory, on loan Rams keeper Ross Atkins threw himself to his left to produce a spectacular one handed save. 

Derby continued to press in the early stages and Atkins was called into action again in the 14th minute. Summer signing Michael Jacobs picked out Jamie Ward with a chipped ball forward, the Rams striker demonstarted superb control before sending a low shot in on goal which Atkins was able to save low down to his right.

Ward then tried his luck two minutes later with a swerving volley from the left edge of the penalty area which flew wide of the right hand post. 

It took until the 27th minute for Burton's first chance of the match. McCrory picked out Cleveland Taylor with a lovely cross field ball, the Brewers winger cut inside from the right into space but underhit his left footed shot leaving Frank Fielding with a comfortable save in the Rams goal. 

Derby were soon back on the attack and should have taken the lead when Nathan Tyson picked out Jacobs in the right side of the penalty area with a low ball which the winger side footed high over the bar under little pressure from the Brewers defence.

Burton thought they had taken the lead in the 34th minute, Dele Adebola jinked his way through the Rams defence before trying to place the ball past Fielding, the Derby keeper pulled off a smart save but the ball fell loose to Robbie Weir who crashed an effort down off the cross bar and away. Albion were appealing that the ball had crossed the line but the referee and his asisstant waved play on.

Burton were coming into the game more as the half drew to a close. Maghoma fired a 25 yard effort just over the cross bar and the with 5 minutes to go until the break Taylor almost picked out Adebola with a whipped cross from the right, Valentin Gjokaj just reaching the ball in front of the on trial front man.

Half time: Burton Albion 0-0 Derby County

Burton made one change at the break, Reading striker Brett Williams replaced Adi Yussuf as he continues his trial with the Brewers.

Derby also made one change, Will Hughes coming on in place of Craig Bryson.

Derby took the lead four minutes into the second half after a terrific run and finish from Michael JACOBS. The Rams number 11 played a one two with Nathan Tyson on the half way line before tearing past the Brewers defence and placing a precise finish low past Atkins into the bottom corner.

Zander Diamond was replaced soon after the goal by Nathan Stanton, Diamond had picked up a knock just before the Rams took the lead. Gary Rowett soon made his thord change of the match when triallist Matt Patterson replaced Dele Adebola in the 54th minute.

The Brewers' first effort on goal after the break came through Maghoma who sent a rasping 20 yard drive into the side netting of Fielding's goal.

Nigel Clough made a raft of changes on the hour mark. Saul Deeney, James Caton, Theo Robinson and Mason Bennett replaced Frank Fielding, Michael Jacobs, Nathan Tyson and Jamie Ward.

Burton should have levelled things up in the 64th minute, Weir stole the ball just outside the Rams area and despite having his shirt pulled he found Patterson inside the area, he made space for himself before forcing a save out of Deeney, the ball rebounded to Taylor arriving on the right but he drilled his shot wide of the near post.

Former Burton Albion man John Brayford came close to doubling the Rams lead 2 minutes later when his looping shot from 7 yards following a Derby corner was headed off the line by McCrory.

Derby made more changes in 70th minute. Ben Davies, Conor Doyle and Tom Naylor replaced John Brayford, Paul Coutts and Jeff Hendrick. Burton also made another change in the 71st minute, scholar player Matty Palmer was given a run out in place of Cleveland Taylor.

Ben Davies had the chance to make an instant impact with a deadball opportunity from 25 yards.  But the former Notts County midfielder, who scored from a similar position at the Pirelli Stadium last year, put his effort high over the bar. 

Mark O'Brien, former Brewer Jake Buxton and James Bailey were given the final quarter of an hour in place of Richard Keogh, Michael Hoganson and Valentin Gjokaj. Jack Dyer also came on in place of Robbie Weir for Burton Albion.

Davies saw an effort from the edge of the area saved by Atkins as the second half, largely disrupted by substitutions, drew to a close.

Full time: Burton Albion 0-1 Derby County

Scorers: Derby - Jacobs (49)

Referee: Mr D. Coote

Burton Albion: ATKINS, CORBETT, DIAMOND, TAYLOR, WEIR, ADEBOLA, YUSSUF, McCRORY, MAGHOMA, HOLNESS, BELL. Subs: LYNESS, STANTON, C. PALMER, M. PALMER, WILLIAMS, PATTERSON, DYER.

Derby County: FIELDING, BRAYFORD, HOGANSON, BRYSON, GKOKAJ, KEOGH, COUTTS, HENDRICK, TYSON, WARD, JACOBS. Subs: DEENEY, BUXTON, ROBINSON, DOYLE, O’BRIEN, NAYLOR, DAVIES, HUGHES, BENNETT, BAILEY, CATON