BURTON Albion's League Two promotion challenge has hit a stumbling block with a 2-0 away defeat to Bristol Rovers.
The result makes it three defeats from three visits to Bristol for Burton.
The Brewers were forced into a change for the second of their three successive away games, with regular left-back Damien McCrory suffering from a dead leg. Chris Hussey played in his place.
Bristol had the best of a goalless first half, their best chance coming in the 15th minute when Burton keeper Rob Lainton made a fine save to his left to keep out a shot from Lee Brown.
The half ended with the Brewers surviving a huge scramble in their penalty area after a free kick conceded by Hussey, who was booked for fouling Alan Gow.
Burton's Robbie Weir and Bristol's John-Joe O'Toole were also booked in the first half and Rovers' Michael Smith followed them into the book early in the second half for a foul on Weir.
The home side continued to look the most likely to break the deadlock and did so in the 70th minute when David Clarkson headed in a Michael Smith cross.
Adam McGurk shot over from Billy Kee's pass as the Brewers tried to hit back but they had been second best in this game and Rovers had a second after 79 minutes, O'Toole poking the ball in after Lainton parried Clarkson's shot.
Full report to follow.
