Match ends, Burton Albion 5, Colchester United 1.
Burton came from a goal behind to score five and hand managerless Colchester their fifth straight league defeat.
Callum Harriott put the U's in front from Gavin Massey's cross, but Burton levelled through Nasser El Khayati's 25-yard curling free-kick.
The Brewers then took the lead through Mark Duffy's deflected shot and it was 3-1 when Frankie Kent's clearance hit Tom Naylor and beat Jamie Jones.
Lucas Akins' 12-yard shot and Timmy Thiele's header completed the rout.
The win sees third-placed Burton close the gap on League One leaders Coventry to just a point, while Colchester, who parted company with boss Tony Humes on Thursday, are now just a point above the relegation zone in 20th.
Burton Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told BBC Radio Derby:
"I thought we were very sloppy to start. In the first twenty minutes, we did things we do not normally do. We weren't professional and that's why we were losing 1-0.
"We were lucky that it was only the early part of the game so we could get things right and luckily we did.
"I don't think it was a 5-1 game; I don't think that we deserved the five goals, but we made the chances and we put them away."
Line-ups
Burton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McLaughlin
- 2Edwards
- 4Mousinho
- 30Flanagan
- 19O'ConnorSubstituted forMcCroryat 45'minutes
- 8Weir
- 21Duffy
- 15Naylor
- 11El Khayati
- 22Binnom-WilliamsSubstituted forAkinsat 64'minutes
- 9BeavonSubstituted forThieleat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Reilly
- 10Akins
- 12Butcher
- 14McCrory
- 20Thiele
- 23Palmer
- 31Matthews
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Jones
- 24BrindleySubstituted forSordellat 60'minutes
- 15Kent
- 18Eastman
- 3Briggs
- 8Gilbey
- 4Edwards
- 11MasseySubstituted forSzmodicsat 72'minutes
- 10Moncur
- 31Harriott
- 9Porter
Substitutes
- 6Elokobi
- 7Wright
- 17Szmodics
- 20Lapslie
- 28Ambrose
- 33Parish
- 45Sordell
- Referee:
- Ben Toner
- Attendance:
- 2,893
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home4
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burton Albion 5, Colchester United 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marvin Sordell (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Philip Edwards.
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Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Jon McLaughlin.
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Attempt saved. Marvin Sordell (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Goal!
Goal! Burton Albion 5, Colchester United 1. Timmy Thiele (Burton Albion) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mark Duffy with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Sammie Szmodics.
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Tom Naylor (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Eastman (Colchester United).
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Attempt missed. Damien McCrory (Burton Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Sammie Szmodics.
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Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Frankie Kent.
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Attempt missed. Marvin Sordell (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
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Chris Porter (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Flanagan (Burton Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Burton Albion. Timmy Thiele replaces Stuart Beavon.
Post update
Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Philip Edwards.
Goal!
Goal! Burton Albion 4, Colchester United 1. Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Damien McCrory with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Colchester United. Sammie Szmodics replaces Gavin Massey.