Match ends, Burton Albion 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
BurtonBurton Albion1PlymouthPlymouth Argyle0
Callum McFadzean scored the only goal as Burton Albion beat Plymouth.
McFadzean, on loan from Sheffield United, steered a 10-yard shot past Jake Cole after being fed by Billy Kee.
Kee had a 25-yard shot tipped over, Jimmy Phillips rifled a shot against the post and Damien McCrory skimmed the crossbar as Burton were on top.
Reuben Reid saw his shot deflected wide for the visitors, and Conor Hourihane could only shoot into the arms of keeper Rob Lainton.
The result keeps Burton in touch with third-placed Chesterfield in the race for automatic promotion to League One, whereas Plymouth's late play-off push takes a knock as they are now five points behind seventh-placed York.
Burton Albion manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:
"I thought the first half was probably the best we've played all season at home.
"We tried a slightly different formation which allowed the three midfielders to get a little bit closer to the front two and I thought the front two did terrifically well.
"I hoped that Billy (Kee) and Gary (Alexander) would have an effect with their physicality because our pitch is small and you haven't got to run quite as far.
"What we've found on big pitches is you sometimes need a bit more pace up there. But at home, as we found last year with Symesey (Michael Symes) and Billy (Kee), sometimes you can do that and I thought they held it up quite well.
"Our link-up play was excellent and we didn't really come under any pressure in the first half and we probably should have made one or two more of our shots count."
Line-ups
Burton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Lainton
- 26Gray
- 14McCrory
- 7Bell
- 6Sharps
- 25Cansdell-Sherriff
- 15McFadzeanBooked at 58minsSubstituted forWeirat 81'minutes
- 23Palmer
- 9AlexanderSubstituted forSymesat 69'minutes
- 29KeeSubstituted forMacDonaldat 56'minutes
- 17Phillips
Substitutes
- 2Edwards
- 8Weir
- 11MacDonald
- 12Hemmings
- 16Lyness
- 18Knowles
- 28Symes
Plymouth
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Cole
- 2BerrySubstituted forMorganat 66'minutes
- 25Purrington
- 17Nelson
- 16TrotmanSubstituted forWottonat 45'minutes
- 4Blanchard
- 14YoungSubstituted forBlizzardat 73'minutes
- 6HourihaneBooked at 61mins
- 9Reid
- 29Showunmi
- 27Gurrieri
Substitutes
- 8Boco
- 10Morgan
- 11Blizzard
- 15Wotton
- 18Harvey
- 19Thomas
- 32Dawson
- Referee:
- Mark Haywood
- Attendance:
- 2,962
Match Stats
Home TeamBurtonAway TeamPlymouth
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burton Albion 1, Plymouth Argyle 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Reuben Reid (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Hand ball by Lee Bell (Burton Albion).
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Symes (Burton Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jimmy Phillips (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Damien McCrory.
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Robbie Weir replaces Callum McFadzean.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dominic Blizzard (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Ian Sharps.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Lee Bell.
Post update
Foul by Michael Symes (Burton Albion).
Post update
Andres Gurrieri (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Hand ball by Conor Hourihane (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jimmy Phillips (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Dominic Blizzard replaces Luke Young.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum McFadzean (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Andres Gurrieri.
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Michael Symes replaces Gary Alexander.
Post update
Attempt saved. Conor Hourihane (Plymouth Argyle) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
