Burton 1 Vics 1: FULL TIME

FULL TIME Bittersweet emotion at the final whistle for Vics, who thoroughly outclassed their hosts before the break. Burton responded after the interval more with will than knowhow until Webster once more scored against Northwich to rescue a point. The home crowd seem pleased, in truth their side looked anything but play off candidates - if that is their aim.

94 mins Roberts and Brown block Corbett's goalbound shot and the ball loops onto the roof of the net.

90 mins The referee has found four minutes of added time from somewhere. It's backs-to-the-wall stuff for the visitors, who are really under pressure for the first time tonight.

87 mins Michael Byrne replaces an exhausted Matty Crowell.

84 mins Michael Barnes makes his Vics debut, replacing Jamie Mullan on the left flank.

83 mins GOAL Webster (who else?) levels for the home time, heading home Corbett's cross from the right. Tynan has no chance to save.

77 mins Darren Stride comes on for Gilroy. Nigel Clough pushes McGrath wider to accomodate the incoming player. Crowd is announced as 1,701.

76 mins Vics best move of the second half, Williams incisive pass splits the Brewers' defence and sends Mullan clear. His shot is saved by Poole.

69 mins Byrom's name is added to the growing list in the referee's notebook. His swipe at Harrad after losing possession is petulant and pointless.

66 mins Harrad is on for the anonymous Greg Pearson. Holmes is shown the yellow card for a dreadful tackle on Stamp on the halfway line. The home crowd accuse him of diving, which frankly is laughable.

63 mins Burton's best chance so far. Ryan Austin's thunderbolt of a free kick from fully 30 yards is saved brilliantly by Tynan to his right. Shaun Harrad is preparing to come on, much to the delight of the home crowd. Crowell is booked for a foul on McGrath.

50 mins Another messy opening, Sutton's silly foul on Gilroy the only incident of note. He is lucky to escape a booking.

46 mins Second half gets underway with no further changes.

Half time Vics go in ahead on merit. They have created the best chances against a so far unimpressive Burton. The Brewers did finish the first half strongly, but created little in the way of shooting spaces. In contrast to Saturday, Vics front pair have the beating of their Burton counterparts both in the air and on the deck.

45 mins Aaron Webster, so often a nemesis against Northwich, replaces Matt Bailey. The defender has gone off with a bloodied nose following a tangle with Steele.

43 mins Byrom blasts a dipping half volley from 30 yards that Poole scoops out of his top corner. The save was easier than he made it look. Stamp's lay off in the build up was exquisite.

40 mins The home team are finally building momentum. Banim skips past Michael Welch inside the box and then tries to round Scott Tynan, who forces him wider than he wants. Banim's cross is smuggled clear by Mark Roberts. Gilroy then blazes a left foot shot wide from Andy Corbett's back post cross.

36 mins Burton come close to a leveller. McGrath's direct free kick floats inches past the post with the aid of a slight deflection of the Vics' wall.

30 mins Williams follows McGrath into the book for a foul on the same player.

29 mins GOAL Stamp powers home a header from Williams' inviting cross to put the visitors into a deserved lead. Tony James' dreadful error surrendered possession to Dino Maamria's men and they inflicted the maximum punishment. John McGrath has been booked for a foul on Crowell, much to the dismay of the home crowd.

21 mins Lee Steele spurns a glorious chance to put Vics ahead. Stamp's hooked pass sends him clean through but he hits a rising shot over the bar on the half volley. Vics should be in front. On the plus side, the Brewers' defence showed an alarming lack of pace.

18 mins Kevin Poole pulls off a stunning save low to his right to paw clear Stamp's header.

17 mins Vics piece together the game's best attacking moment so far. Richie Sutton and Matty Crowell swap passes before Darryn Stamp's cute flick sends Byrom clear but his first touch is heavy and Tony James is able to scramble the ball clear. Williams picks up the loose ball but drifts an aimless cross past the far post.

15 mins Joel Byrom registers the first shot on goal, but his effort is weak and off target. Jody Banim replicates his miss at the other end. I still can't believe how quiet the Pirelli Stadium is. The Vics fans agree, breaking into a chante of 'Your so quiet it's unbelievable.' They have a point.

10 mins An untidy start by both teams, who are swapping possession with frequency. There is a buzz around the ground whenever Keith Gilroy touches the ball, but he lacks the pace to beat Richie Sutton on the outside.

Dino Maamria has stationed Danny Williams on the right hand side of midfield, with Jamie Mullan occupying the opposite flank.

Kick off The Blue Square have issued pre-match guidelines this season with complex diagrams showing how the teams should line up before kick off. They have just done the Champions League-style handshakes to blaring music.

7.40pm The Pirelli Stadium is surprisingly sparsely populated with just five minutes to go before kick off. Vics will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season's debacle in the corresponding fixture, when they lost 4-1. There are around 150 green and white-clad followers behind the goal to my right.

Vics boss Dino Maamria makes one change from the side that lost at home to Cambridge United on Saturday.

Danny Williams returns in midfield in place of Paul Barratt, who is left out of the matchday squad after an uninspiring display at the weekend.

New signing Michael Barnes, who penned non-contract terms over the weekend, is among the substitutes.

Nigel Clough has, as expected, brought winger Keith Gilroy back into his starting line up in place of Aaron Webster. Loanee Matt Bailey drops to left back.

Playmaker Michael Simpson has not made it, while England C striker Shaun Harrad once more has to be content with a place on the bench.

Burton (4-4-2): Poole (GK), Brayford, Austin, James, Matt Bailey, Corbett, McGrath, Holmes, Gilroy, Pearson, Banim
Subs: Deeney (GK), Webster, Stride, Harrad, Goodfellow

Vics (4-4-2): Tynan (GK), Sutton, Welch, Roberts, Brown, Mullan, Byrom, Crowell, Williams, Stamp, Steele
Subs: Jones (GK), Mat Bailey, Allan, Byrne, Barnes