Brewers 2-1 Leyton Orient: The Brewers Celebrate A Vital Victory.
Burton Albion showed impressive resilience to overturn a first-half deficit and secure a vital result against Leyton Orient at the Pirelli Stadium. (Attendance: 2367)
By Andrew Lunn
Manager Martin Bowyer made two changes to the Brewers' starting eleven following Saturday's defeat at Stockport. Julian Larsson and Jason Sraha were brought into the side, replacing Jack Armer and Anthony Forde.
The Brewers started brightly, but it was Orient who drew first blood in the 10th minute. After Charlie Webster lost possession in midfield, Mark Sweeney attempted to regain the ball, but Ruel Sotiriou broke free. His initial shot was parried by Max Crocombe, but unfortunately for Burton, the rebound fell to Daniel Agyei, who slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Brewers 0, Orient 1.
Crocombe was called into action again on 26 minutes when a hesitant Brewers defence allowed Sotiriou to attempt to round him, but the alert Burton keeper smothered the ball safely.
The Brewers should have equalised just three minutes later. Sweeney found himself with a clear sight of goal, rounding the Orient keeper, Sam Howes. However, his goal-bound effort was cleared off the line. The ball then fell to Rumarn Burrell, whose follow-up shot, seemingly a certain goal, frustratingly found the side netting.
Adding to Burton's woes, captain Ryan Sweeney was forced off the pitch after a lengthy stoppage. He bravely headed the ball following another defensive mix-up but received a kick to the head from Zech Obiero in the process.
Half-time arrived at the Pirelli with the Brewers trailing by a single goal and now without their captain. A significant improvement was needed in the second half.
The Brewers showed renewed intent after the break. Good work from Godwin-Malife in the 48th minute saw him surge through the midfield before releasing the ball to Webster, whose curling shot went just wide of the post.
On 53 minutes, Dodgson rolled the ball into Larsson, who also curled an effort narrowly past the upright.
Manager Bowyer made a tactical change on 57 minutes, bringing on Tomรกลก Kalinauskas in place of Sraha as the Brewers switched to a back four.
The change paid dividends just two minutes later. In the 59th minute, Charlie Webster found himself unmarked at the back post to latch onto a cross from Dodgson across the box, firing home the equaliser. Brewers 1, Orient 1.
The Brewers were now applying sustained pressure, and in the 62nd minute, they took the lead. Charlie Webster unleashed a shot that struck both posts, and Rumarn Burrell was on hand to bundle the rebound over the line. Two goals in quick succession had turned the game on its head. Brewers 2, Orient 1.
Orient attempted to get back into the game, and on 71 minutes, Agyei rose highest from a corner, but his header went wide. From another corner on 78 minutes, Burrell sliced a clearance, causing a moment of panic in the Brewers' defence before the ball was cleared.
In the 93rd minute, Max Crocombe produced a brilliant, world-class save, tipping a header from Dan Happe over the bar. The drama continued in added time as Orient goalkeeper Sam Howes came up for consecutive corners. A flurry of goalmouth action ensued, and Kalinauskas attempted an audacious 80-yard shot towards the empty net, which narrowly failed to reach the goal line. Burrell followed up, but both he and Kalinauskas were unable to beat the recovering Howes. However, it ultimately didn't matter as the Brewers held on for an incredible and vital victory.
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