Goals from strike duo Gary Twigg and Yemi Odubade gave United all three points at the Pirelli stadium on a wet and wild Sunday afternoon in Burton.
With three players making their first starts of the season in Michael Corcoran, Luke Foster and Yemi Odubade it took United less than a minute to force their first two corners, as Corcoran forced the first one and then John Brayford bravely headed away Jeannin's in-swinger from under the bar.
The home side, despite having four first choice defenders out, stuck to their 4-4-2 and passing principles, and in Daryl Clare have a player who always seems to do well against The U's.On eleven minutes he did it again, profiting from a slip from Matt Day from a Goodfellow cross and finishing low to Turley's right off the post.
Having lost in the last minute at Cambridge United might have felt sorry for themselves, but instead they responded in exactly the right way as Twigg slotted home his third goal in three games. A through ball was hammered clear by Brayford straight against the fast closing Hutchinson. The ball ran to Twigg who rounded Poole then had the presence of mind to check, take his time and slot home despite the best efforts of a solitary defender on the line. The perfect reply and another good finish from Twigg, once a loanee at Burton Albion.
The impressive Hutchinson headed fiercely over the bar from another Jeannin corner on fourteen, Trainer drove narrowly over on 17, and both sides were sliding the ball around and making it into an attractive game to watch. The abrasive Foster, Hutchinson and Trainer make United difficult to break down, and only a stray header from Corcoranon 28 got through to trouble Billy Turley despite Burton seeing plenty of the ball and getting a succession of dangerous crosses into the United box.
The constant drizzle which meant the floodlights were on from 2.15 on an August afternoon, made turning difficult and mistakes likely, and Turley needed to be sure of his handling on 38 as Corbett fired in a skidding effort from 25 yards.
Burton were looking decent, but right on the break United had the ideal chance to gain an advantage at the interval. Odubade did well to gather the ball in inside the penalty area and flick the ball back for the on-rushing Hutchinson. Hutchinson touched the ball as the challenge came in from Brayford and it was as clear a penalty as you'll ever see. Up stepped Twigg from the spot, but his kick was too central and found the ample middle of Poole rather than the middle of the net.
Twigg almost made amends 11 seconds into the second half with a twenty yard effort on the turn which Poole fielded in front of his face, and captain Quinn then thumped a ten yard snap shot over the bar before a moment of real controversy as Odubade skipped round three challenges and then seemed to be tripped in the box. It was either a penalty or a booking for diving, but ref Cann gave neither.
United were enjoying their best spell of the match and on 53 should have made more of a swift break which ended with Odubade's cross just being cut out as Twigg homed in with the goal at his mercy and his eyes wide open in anticipation.
A goal was coming, and on 57 it came at the end of a neatly worked move. The marauding Anaclet played a one two with Phil Trainer in the right channel, with Trainer'ssuperb through ball freeing Anaclet inside the box. His dinked finish lifted the ball over Poole, and as Burton scrambled to clear it was Odubade who seized on the ball as it bounced back off the post to score a real 'poacher's' goal.
Jim Smith has shuffled his strikers so far this season, but with both scoring and the partnership working well United were making spaces open up and both Twigg and Odubade were making intelligent runs which the makeshift Burton defence were struggling to contain. Brayford, temporary centre half, looked more comfortable coming forward and might have equalized on 68 as he could only get studs to the ball from a left wing cross when any firmer touch would have been a goal but having come back from 3-1 down with ten men to win 4-3 in midweek Burton looked tired.
The U's might well have done the same after a Thursday night game, but had shown great character to bounce back from that disappointment, then to go a goal behind, and then to miss a penalty.
Shaun Harrad might have made things very different when he fired wide of the mark on 81 after a ricochet or two freed him inside the box, but he didn't, United lived again and in the end were full value for all three points.
Report Chris Williams and Julian Hitchman, pictures Darrell Fisher. Stats/line ups by PA Sports.
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