Brewers pick it up after break to hit back for deserved point

Burton Albion recovered from a poor first half to earn a deserved point from a 1-1 draw away to Doncaster Rovers in one of Saturday's early kickoffs in League One.

- By COLSTON CRAWFORD

Tyrese Shade scored his first goal for the club and galvanised the side going forward after his halftime introduction.

The Brewers had looked like the midweek effort against Cardiff City had taken a lot out of them as they were second to the ball for much of the first half and fell behind.

But they were much better after the break and finished the game as the side most likely to win it.

They made one change to the starting lineup from Tuesday's win away to Cardiff, captain Udoka Godwin-Malife returning in place of Fabio Tavares, who he had replaced when the striker limped off after an hour of that game.

The Brewers were able to name a full complement on the bench this time, with Kegs Chauke and Shade returning, while Doncaster lined up with former Albion academy graduate Joe Sbarra in midfield and evergreen 39-year-old striker Billy Sharp up front.

Burton started strongly, with two long throws from Alex Hartridge and corners from both sides.

When the second of these was half cleared, Sebastian Revan kept a low volley down from just outside the box but sent it a yard wide.

The first time Doncaster got forward, a decent-looking cross from Tom Nixon on the right bounced through the box and safely out of play.

In the seventh minute, Burton had another corner but when it was taken short to Godwin-Malife, he scuffed a pass badly and Doncaster broke for Jordan Gibson to tee up Luke Molyneux, who dragged a shot wide from 15 yards.

Burton were close in the 11th minute when Jake Beesley, on the left, threaded a ball in for Charlie Webster and his angled shot clipped the top of the bar.

Finn Delap conceded Doncaster’s first corner, on the right, in the 14th minute, worked short before Molyneux crossed and Owen Bailey headed across goal and wide.