Albion are up off the floor to bounce back with stunning win as Charlie floors Cardiff

BURTON Albion picked themselves off the floor - and off the bottom of League One - with a stunning 1-0 win away to high-flying Cardiff City, denying the Welsh side top place in the division as they did so.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

George Evans' first-half header forced a brilliant save from Cardiff City goalkeeper Nathan Trott.

Conceding 77% of possession, the Brewers defended brilliantly and had good chances on the break, taking one through Charlie Webster with eight minutes left.

It was the perfect response to having hit rock bottom, as they had at the Pirelli Stadium against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Manager Gary Bowyer’s reaction to Saturday's 4-0 thrashing at home to Plymouth Argyle was to drop captain Udoka Godwin-Malife and Toby Sibbick to the bench, with Jack Armer and Finn Delap coming in.

The wings and midfield were unchanged but with Tyrese Shade injured in training, Fabio Tavares came into the starting lineup.

The thinness of Albion’s injury-hit squad was apparent with only six substitutes named and no striker available to come off the bench.

Burton kicked off but Sebastian Revan was penalised for a foul off the ball within the first few seconds and Cardiff won a corner from their first attack, which Burton cleared.

In the next attack, in the third minute, Yousef Salech headed a cross from Chris Willock, on the left, straight at Brad Collins.

The Brewers managed their first attack but when it broke down Cardiff broke to win another corner, which again came to nothing.

There was more danger when Perry Ng got to the right byeline and crossed for Salech, whose header was beaten away to his right by Collins. It was already looking ominous for Albion at this stage.

Revan conceded a more obvious free kick on the right in the 12th minute, tripping Cian Ashford, but Alex Hartridge headed it away.

Within a minute, there were two more corners and it was backs to the wall stuff for Burton as Collins pushed away another header.