Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Burton Albion

Burton Albion conceded just 37 goals in their first ever season in the third tier

Burton Albion secured promotion to the Championship for the first time with a nervy draw at Doncaster that confirmed Rovers' relegation to League Two.

With third-placed Walsall thumping Port Vale, Burton needed a draw to guarantee their second consecutive promotion.

The Brewers' best chance fell to Calum Butcher, who was denied when one-on-one, but they held on to remain second.

Doncaster had needed a win, plus defeat for Fleetwood and an improbable 13-goal swing, to avoid relegation.

Burton among the big boys

Burton, who won promotion to England's third tier for the first time last season as League Two champions under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, reappointed Nigel Clough for a second spell in charge after Hasselbaink's switch to Queens Park Rangers in December.

Since Clough's return, when Burton were top of League One, they have won 12, drawn eight and lost six of their 26 matches, failing to win in six games between 26 March and 19 April to set up a nervous finale to the season.

With Walsall winning 5-0 at Vale Park, Burton knew that a Doncaster winner would have denied them promotion, but Jon McLaughlin's goal was rarely threatened.

Their clean sheet ensured the club that was playing non-league football for its entire history until 2009 will face two former European Cup winners - Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest - in the Championship next season.

Doncaster, who spent five seasons in the Championship between 2008 and 2014, will return to the fourth tier for the first time since 2004.

Relegated from the second tier on the final day of the season by a last-gasp Birmingham goal two years ago, Rovers' drop to League Two was made more likely by a dismal 17-match winless run between 9 January and 9 April.

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Clough on Burton's promotion to Championship

Burton manager Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby: "I think it's an emotional time for everybody. It is truly, truly remarkable.

"We don't spend money we haven't got, there's no big investors, nobody puts any money in. You just run it sensibly, make good decisions, try to get good characters in the club and on the pitch and you've got a chance.

"I think it's fitting we get promoted with a clean sheet. It was a good solid performance."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Doncaster

• 42Matthews
• 2Lund
• 38Alcock
• 6Butler
• 20Taylor-Sinclair
• 4McCullough
• 29MiddletonSubstituted forCalderat 54'minutes
• 8ChaplowSubstituted forLongbottomat 62'minutes
• 24Rowe
• 11Williams
• 21MandevilleSubstituted forTysonat 53'minutes

Substitutes

• 14Tyson
• 23Marosi
• 25Pugh
• 32Whitehouse
• 34Davies
• 37Calder
• 41Longbottom

Burton

• 1McLaughlin
• 2Edwards
• 4Mousinho
• 3Cansdell-Sherriff
• 14McCrory
• 34ChoudhuryBooked at 76mins
• 10Akins
• 15NaylorSubstituted forWeirat 79'minutes
• 23Palmer
• 21Duffy
• 9BeavonSubstituted forButcherat 45'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Reilly
• 8Weir
• 12Butcher
• 17Myers-Harness
• 18Walker
• 19O'Connor
• 31Bywater

Referee:

Andy Woolmer

Attendance:

9,803

Match Stats

Home TeamDoncasterAway TeamBurton

Possession

Home47%

Away53%

Shots

Home4

Away9

Shots on Target

Home1

Away3

Corners

Home1

Away5

Fouls

Home8

Away6

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Doncaster Rovers 0, Burton Albion 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Doncaster Rovers 0, Burton Albion 0.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 86'

Andy Butler (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Lucas Akins (Burton Albion).

Posted at 84'

Foul by Andy Butler (Doncaster Rovers).

Posted at 84'

Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 83'

Attempt blocked. Robbie Weir (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 82'

Riccardo Calder went off injured after Doncaster Rovers had used all subs.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Nathan Tyson (Doncaster Rovers).

Posted at 82'

Philip Edwards (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Burton Albion. Robbie Weir replaces Tom Naylor.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Andy Butler (Doncaster Rovers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.

Booking

Posted at 76'

Hamza Choudhury (Burton Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Tommy Rowe (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Burton Albion).

Posted at 73'

Attempt saved. Mark Duffy (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 73'

Attempt saved. Callum Butcher (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 72'

Aaron Taylor-Sinclair went off injured after Doncaster Rovers had used all subs.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Riccardo Calder (Doncaster Rovers).

Posted at 72'

Lucas Akins (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 70'

Mitchell Lund (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Mark Duffy (Burton Albion).

Posted at 69'

Riccardo Calder (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Callum Butcher (Burton Albion).

Posted at 68'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 67'

Delay in match Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Doncaster Rovers) because of an injury.

Posted at 66'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 66'

Delay in match Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Doncaster Rovers) because of an injury.

Substitution

Posted at 62'

Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. William Longbottom replaces Richard Chaplow.

Substitution

Posted at 54'

Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Riccardo Calder replaces Harry Middleton.

Substitution

Posted at 53'

Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Nathan Tyson replaces Liam Mandeville.

Posted at 53'

Attempt missed. Matthew Palmer (Burton Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner.

Posted at 52'

Corner, Burton Albion. Conceded by Luke McCullough.

Posted at 50'

Attempt saved. Craig Alcock (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 47'

Foul by Richard Chaplow (Doncaster Rovers).

Posted at 47'

Philip Edwards (Burton Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 46'

Attempt missed. Richard Chaplow (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

Second Half

Posted at

Second Half begins Doncaster Rovers 0, Burton Albion 0.

Substitution

Posted at 45'

Substitution, Burton Albion. Callum Butcher replaces Stuart Beavon.

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