Burton 1 (Walker 3) Rochdale 0

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Branston gives a thumbs up to the Rochdale supporters as they praise his man-of-the-match performance.

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Burton ended Rochdale's six match unbeaten run thanks to Richard Walker's early deflected goal.

The home side started the game brightly, and deservedly led through Walker's close range strike, which nicked off Nathan Stanton on its way to goal.

Rochdale were always in with a shout while the score remained at one but they were never able to break through a Burton backline that was superbly marshalled by ex-Dale man Guy Branston. By full time Burton had probably had the better of the overall chances and their victory was deserved.

Burton were ahead from their first foray forward. Greg Pearson beat Craig Dawson to the byline, his cut back reached Richard Walker, and there was an element of good fortune to the striker's third minute goal as the ball clipped off Nathan Stanton and wrong-footed Kenny Arthur.

The home side played some bright football early on and caused more than a few problems for a shaky looking Rochdale backline. Jimmy Phillips tricked his way past a couple of weak tackles on the edge of the box but drilled his shot straight at Arthur.

Slowly Dale began to make more progress in the Burton half and towards the end of the half they came on strong. Chris O'Grady rifled a shot inches past the post from the right hand edge of the box. The referee adjudged a nick off a Burton defender and from the resulting corner the ball was loaded back into the box by Gary Jones. Will Buckley won the header, and put it over the top, but the winger appeared to get a huge shove in the back from a Burton defender. The referee gave a goal kick, something which he perhaps should have given from O'Grady's original shot

The visitors continued to probe, and a couple of ricochets in the box could have gone anywhere, but throughout the half Burton keeper Artur Krysiak had never really been tested.

The second half began much like the first, a scrappy affair but with a couple of chances falling Burton's way as Walker skimmed a shot into Arthur's arms and then lobbed another one over the crossbar.

Suddenly the game sparked into life and Arthur kept Dale in it when he blocked Pearson's effort, the ball fell to Walker and Arthur spread himself to make a tremendous stop. From the result, Dale broke and Arthur's saves almost brought the ultimate reward as Simon Whaley cut in from the right and rifled a shot just past the upright.

Keith Hill introduced Joe Thompson in place of the ineffective Chris Dagnall and the change saw Dale apply more pressure and Whaley forced Krysiak into his first meaningful save of the afternoon as he turned his well struck shot around the post.

This served as a warning sign to the home side and they kicked on in search of a second. Ryan Austin burst to the byline from deep within the Burton defence and his low cross had to be turned away by Scott Wiseman with Pearson loitering with intent. Arthur was then forced into another couple of fine saves as he deflected Phillips' shot out and minutes later turned Andy Corbett's drive over his crossbar.

A Dale goal never looked likely until Guy Branston almost gifted one to his former club. The centre half, who had been solid all game, tried something a little too cocksure as he tried to control a long ball rather than put it out. Whaley seized on Branston's poor touch and looked to slide in O'Grady but Tony James read the danger and hooked clear.

Still Dale huffed and puffed but in truth they hadn't really looked like scoring all afternoon and despite a period of pressure during injury time the result in the end was a fair one.

Attendance: 3119.

Burton: Krysiak, Boertien, Simpson, James, McGrath, Corbett, Walker (Maghoma 71), Austin, Phillips (Penn 83), Pearson (Makofo 80), Branston.
Subs (not used): Webster, Stride, Shroot, Redmond.

Booked: Simpson.

Rochdale: Arthur, Wiseman, T. Kennedy, Stanton, Dawson (Holness 60), Jones, J. Kennedy, Whaley, Buckley, O'Grady (Spencer 80), Dagnall (Thompson).
Subs (not used): Rundle, Stephens, Edwards, Flynn.

Booked: T. Kennedy.

Attempts (on target): Burton 14 (10) Rochdale 11 (5)
Free kicks: Burton 9 Rochdale 16
Offside: Burton 2 Rochdale 3
Corners: Burton 2 Rochdale 10