Lucas Akins netted an 86th-minute penalty to see Burton Albion to a 2-1 victory over the Blues, for whom Scott Fraser had missed an earlier spot-kick, at the Pirelli Stadium. Joe Powell gave Burton the lead on 19 but a Tom O’Connor own goal three minutes later levelled for the Blues. Town were better after the break but Fraser missed from the spot in the 57th minute and sub Kyle Edwards hit the bar, before Akins made no mistake for the Brewers.

Louie Barry, Armando Dobra and Janoi Donacien all started for the Blues as manager Paul Cook made three changes from the team which began last Saturday’s League One opener against Morecambe, which ended 2-2.

Toto Nsiala missed out having suffered a hamstring injury against the Shrimps, while Wes Burns was absent having also picked up a knock with the same likely to be the case for Conor Chaplin.

Barry played in the number 10 role with Dobra on the right and Fraser on the left. Donacien replaced Nsiala alongside Luke Woolfenden at the centre of the defence.

New signing Edwards was among the subs but this week’s other addition Hayden Coulson was not included in the 18.

Bailey Clements, Idris El Mizouni and Corrie Ndaba were also on the bench having started the Carabao Cup tie against Newport in the week.

For Burton, Terry Taylor replaced injured one-time Town target Deji Oshilaja and Joe Powell came into the team for Jacob Maddox.

Prior to kick-off both teams and staff took a knee to applause from the two sets of supporters.

The game started at a frantic pace with Burton seeking to get the ball forward quickly. However, Town began to find some space to pass the ball and created their first opportunity in the ninth minute.

A cross was looped to Penney beyond the left post from where the former Sheffield Wednesday man hooked back across towards Joe Pigott who challenged with Burton keeper Ben Garratt and it was forced out of play.

In the 12th minute, Barry was sent away down the left as Town broke quickly but was flagged offside as he took it into the area.

On the quarter-hour, Taylor was shown the game’s first yellow card for a challenge on Dobra as the Albanian U21 international counter-attacked following a Brewers corner, referee Sam Purkiss having played the advantage when the tackle had been made.

Two minutes later, Powell struck two shots from the edge of the box which were blocked by Blues defenders with the home side having had the better of it overall.

And in the 19th minute they went in front. Following a quickly-taken free-kick on halfway on the left, Lucas Akins broke down the flank and cut inside for Powell, who was given time and space to shoot low past the advancing Vaclav Hladky.

The lead lasted only three minutes. Dobra was fouled on the left, skipper Lee Evans whipped in a ball to towards the near post and O’Connor headed past his own keeper under pressure from Pigott, subsequently claiming he’d been fouled by the Blues striker.

Burton were next to threaten, Taylor heading wide from an O’Connor cross from the left in the 28th minute.

The Brewers made their first change in the 40th minute with Taylor replaced by former Wolves man Michael Mancienne. Taylor had been booked early on for the foul on Dobra had had been spoken to by the referee shortly beforehand after the second of two fouls on Evans.

That was the last action of the half and Town could count themselves fortunate to be level at the break having scored a goal without managing a shot on target in the half.

The Blues had never really managed to get in control of a game played at a frenetic pace with the direct Brewers presenting the greater threat throughout and preventing Town from playing much fluent football.

The home side’s goal when it came was deserved, while Pigott’s pressure on O’Connor from Evans’s free-kick led to Town’s equaliser.

The game is likely to become more open the longer it progresses which should suit the Blues.

Town were first to threaten after the break in the 49th minute. Fraser sent Kane Vincent-Young away down the right then picked up the ball after the former Colchester man had been challenged. Fraser took the ball on on the right of the area but crossed into keeper Garratt’s arms.

On 52 a long thrown from the right was allowed to bounce in the area before Vincent-Young was able to head clear.

But Town were beginning to get on top and in the 56th minute Fraser threaded in Rekeem Harper on the right of the box and his cross was diverted over by a defender.

And following the flag-kick, the Blues won a penalty. The ball had been played back across from the right and Barry took it past O’Connor, who sent him tumbling. Referee Purkiss pointed straight to the spot and booked the defender.

Ex-Brewer Fraser took the kick and after a pause and a stutter in his run-up hit his shot low to Garratt’s right and the keeper saved. Dobra tried to make something of it from a tight angle but the ball was bundled behind.

The game was increasingly open and on 64 Matt Penney sent over a dangerous cross from the left which Ryan Leak somehow put over his bar when it looked more likely he would put past his own keeper.

A minute later, Town swapped Dobra, who again had presented the Blues’ main attacking threat, for Macauley Bonne and Barry, who did well to win the penalty but was otherwise quiet, for debutant Edwards.

The new signing quickly made an impression, taking the ball in a stride from the left before smashing a 25-yard strike which slammed off the underside of the bar but bounced away from goal.

Conor O’Shaughnessy head over for the home side in the 72nd minute, then Harper slipped over as he shot from the edge of the box at the other end.

On 79 Town boss Paul Cook was booked for a clash with Tom Hamer as the Burton man tried to get the ball to take a throw. Cook and his Burton counterpart exchanged smiles and a hug before referee Purkiss issued the card.

Two minutes later, Harper headed over from a tight angle on the left from a Fraser free-kick from the opposite flank.

The Blues were finishing the game on top. On 84 Edwards played a clever ball through for Fraser but the Scot’s first touch let him down.

A minute later, Burton were awarded a penalty. The Brewers had broken down the left and then across the area to Powell, who was tripped by Penney as he chased back into the box.

Akins succeeded where Fraser had failed finding the net to Hladky’s left as the keeper dived to the right.

Leak headed well wide from a corner on 89, then at the other end an Edwards strike deflected wide as the fourth official’s board indicated four additional minutes.

Moments later, Harper curled a shot into Garratt’s arms after more good work from Edwards.

Mancienne was booked for a foul on Evans, having been lucky to avoid a card for an earlier studs-high challenge on Harper.

Following the free-kick, Edwards crossed from the right and Woolfenden saw a header blocked.

Town were still pushing as the whistle confirmed their first ever defeat to Burton and their first loss at the Pirelli Stadium.

Having been second best in the first half, the Blues were better in the second half but without seriously threatening until Fraser’s missed penalty.

Edwards, who was very lively in his time on the field, was unfortunate with his strike off his bar before more of the defending which has characterised the first week of the season led to Akins’s penalty and Burton’s winner.

The Blues visit Cheltenham, who lost 3-1 at home to Wycombe today, on Tuesday still looking for their first victory of the season.

Burton: Garratt, Brayford (c), Powell, Akins, Smith (Bostwick 88), Patrick, O'Connor, Shaughnessy, Taylor (Mancienne 40), Leak, Hamer. Unused: Balcombe, Borthwick-Jackson, Blake-Tracy, Amadi-Holloway, Williams.

Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Donacien, Woolfenden, Penney, Harper, Evans (c), Fraser, Barry (Edwards 65), Dobra (Bonne 65), Pigott. Unused: Holy, Ndaba, Clements, El Mizouni, Jackson. Referee: Sam Purkiss (London). Att 3,766 (Town: 1,400).

Photo: Pagepix

brassy added 17:47 - Aug 14 same old same old
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pup12 added 17:54 - Aug 14 Have we only got one half of a good management team again!??? Leam Richardson looks like he was the tactical man at the moment. Cook does the talking .Unfortunately talking doesn't win games. The Americans won't put up with it for long .COYB please!!
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oldblue added 18:02 - Aug 14 Patience please.....
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Orraman added 18:05 - Aug 14 @pup12 Reckon you are spot on there. Cook without Richardson has shown that Cook made his alleged success on the back of Leam Richardson just like Clough without Taylor, Lambert without Culverhouse and no doubt a few more I cannot recall at the moment. I know that in the current woke climate we are not supposed to make generalisations about people's personality traits but it does seem that there must be something in the water on Merseyside that make Scousers talk a load of sh*te at 60 miles per hour. I know Brenner is paid to ask some silly questions but thought Cook was quite rude and arrogant In post match interview

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Barty added 18:06 - Aug 14 I know it's his favoured formation but one up front just does not work for us - it didn't last season and still isn't working. Two up front is needed
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bernie added 18:07 - Aug 14 Hugely disappointing start is a understatement, we played 3 games and lost two of them , Burton , morecambe and bloody Newport . Come on we want a lot more , already not confident about Tuesday . Morecambe had new signings and not just a few , Burton have made a lot of signings and then there was Newport who had six new players playing against us . Everyone needs to wake up quickly , it's not bloody good enough . And anyone who wants to have a moan , I've been supporting this club for 48 years . I hope mr cook knows what he's doing because at the moment I don't think so and I'm not even thinking of last season .

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BigAlwasmyhero added 18:10 - Aug 14 We don't mind the pain. It's the hope that kills us!
4

felixblues added 18:16 - Aug 14 Complete garbage from the likes of "Nobbysnuts"..Training is a different kettle of fish to playing in a game against different opposition. We have had a complete overhaul of staff and it WILL take time to gel.I would suggest giving the new side/manager 10/15 games to adjust.
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RegencyBlue added 18:19 - Aug 14 We've bought the best part of a whole new squad, presumably on Cooks say so. I don't see him going anywhere soon so the armchair warriors on here should save their breath. Once we can get our defence sorted out things will improve. Results haven't been great so far but there are signs we can produce decent football, signs that haven't been there for a lot of years!

6

Lightningboy added 18:22 - Aug 14 Nothing will change until we sort out our appalling injury record. What the hell is the continual problem with injuries at this club?
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Brockleyblue added 18:22 - Aug 14 I'm still confident about how things will work out for us or this season. But let's not kid ourselves about just how poor Paul Cook's start at Portman Road has been. I think even Hurst had a better win percentage by this point in his tenure. All the other other ex-managers who are routinely lambasted on here: Keane, Jewell, McCarthy, Lambert, all had better starts to their time at ITFC than PC has had. Paul needs to stop deflecting entirely legitimate questions from journalists and to up his game. And fast.

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bluesince76 added 18:25 - Aug 14 Not calling for cook out yet but getting close want to see how he will get on with new defenders playing patience is running thin.
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tractorboybig added 18:26 - Aug 14 Well thats the two weakest teams in this division O and a fourth div reserve team/ Lets hope we dont meet a promotion chasing team in the near future
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BlueRuin69 added 18:26 - Aug 14 Understand people asking for patience which of course we should but new players gelling doesnt really account for conceding 5 goals against Morcambe, Newport and Burton. Thats just a really worringing and poor start to the season. Next two games are massive.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:34 - Aug 14 I'm a bit worried about Cook's "direct" approach, which looks a bit frantic at times, but he's been around a long time, so who am I to know what's best. But I thought in the passages we played the ball on the ground, we looked very good. At the times when we hoofed the ball up the field, we more often than not gave it straight back to the opposition. A bit of a mixture of both approaches is probably best, and I suppose that will take a bit of time to work out. Thought we played quite well second half and didn't really deserve to lose. Very soft penalty against us, but maybe the one we got was also soft - not easy to see on iFollow. If Edwards plays like he did today every week, he'll be an asset. Two new centre backs will also improve things, although I thought Woolfy had a good game today. Disappointing to lose, but there is no reason to despair just yet. If we can get that first win, things might begin to roll. But we have definitely had a reality check at the start of the season so far.

3

atty added 18:36 - Aug 14 I'm struggling to see how he's going to keep all those attacking players happy. Take out Evans and Harper from the midfielders and say Jackson(?) from the attackers that leaves 13 players to fill the 3 and the 1. 🤔
0

runningout added 18:38 - Aug 14 To me we did NOT dominate this game. A few players are flattering to deceive!! Like many have said it will take a while (But should it) to click. I Hope expectations are not making our players too nervous. That needs sorting if it is an issue. I was comparing Burtons defence to ours during game and must admit Burton look alright at the back. We are definitely missing something creative going through middle as we are predictable floating balls to wings constantly. Sounds odd but if we would have got something out of this game, people might have thought things are okay. They are not

4

Essexipswichboy added 18:42 - Aug 14 Why o why is it all about the defense We failed to score at home to Newport and away at Burton To win games you do need to score And missing a gift from the spot is a fing joke It ain't good enough
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happybeingblue added 18:43 - Aug 14 That guy moaning on radio suffolk was the same angry man going on about lack of mars bars in the britannia stand im sure of it,glad mathie challenged him why do they give these same guys airtime. you can imagine his mindset "right we lost thats it im ringing up for my 5 mins of fame again" and to finish off a good old moan its always" but i love the club" what with fans like that and the ipswich star and their tabloid nonsense..... oh yer lets just forget about paul cooks promotions with his last 3 clubs and our complete rebuild and brand new squad! "we aint top yet and im chuffing annoyed lets get the negativity going! New regime have had 3 games and people are losing it already! :)

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Nobbysnuts added 18:48 - Aug 14 Felixblues....what utter nonsense...what do you think they work on in training???? Ballroom dancing? They work on tactics, how they are going to play against the next opponents, who plays where. If we can't gel and understand each other in training then we are up sh#t Street. We will see if your still so positive in 10 games when we are 15 points off the top 2 and 10 points off the playoffs. I honestly think some people think the players go into training to play on the PlayStation. other teams seem to have no problems understanding each other. It's not good enough and you know it.

5

tractorboybig added 18:49 - Aug 14 delias cheesy do you have two brain cells?
1

inghamspur added 18:53 - Aug 14 See where things are after 10 games, but doubt if people will still be patient if things don't look like they're turning round. No excuses if 10 games on and still no progress.
4

delias_cheesy_flaps added 19:01 - Aug 14 Two more than you, that's for sure. Go watch Naarwich, we need fans like as a hole in the head!
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Monkey_Blue added 19:05 - Aug 14 NobbyNuts. As I recall the reason we divebombed under cook last season was because he didn't have enough time on the training pitch. As someone mentioned, Morecambe signed 15 players before they played us. I'm not judging cook on 3 games, I'm judging him on the 19 plus things he's said and done. He might get us up, but that'll be by outspending people. I don't think there is enough going on upstairs for him to outthink anyone.

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felixblues added 19:12 - Aug 14 Nobbysnuts...how many training sessions do you think our players have had all together?You can't work miracles overnight !We are still making additions to our squad and it will take time. If we don't at least make the playoffs I will eat my words. I will judge Cook on this seasons squad(Cooks team)and not the garbage he inherited.
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