A bright and sunny day welcomed us at the Pirelli stadium on Saturday with Burton trying to put their Capital one cup blues behind them after surrendering a two-goal lead at Bradford in the week. Northampton made the trip up the M1 bringing as ever a decent following of Cobblers' supporters with them.
Two new faces made it straight into the first eleven for Albion, loan signing's Rob Kiernan,centre back from Blackpool and Luke Rooney,winger, from Swindon, sadly no relation to Wayne. Northampton began with the ever recognisable Adebayo Akinfenwa up front, the guy is literally the biggest striker in the league, built like a tank and up to now has bulldozed a fair few defences in this division.
The game got off to a lively start with tackles flying in going mainly unnoticed or indeed unpunished by the referee who perhaps forgot his shades. With eight minutes on the clock a slick Albion move resulted in Calvin Zola smashing in a near post shot with the left foot to put the Brewers ahead. Further pressure followed with Burton captain Zander Diamond's header from a corner hitting the frame of the goal and Cobblers' keeper Lee Nicholls pulling off a string of fine saves to keep the score down.
Half time couldn't come soon enough for Ady Boothroyd in the Northampton dug-out, nor could it for goalscorer Zola who hobbled off to be replaced by Billy Kee. Kee instantly took his opportunity to impress manager Gary Rowett as the former Leicester man found himself free on the by-line to cross onto the boot of the unfortunate Kelvin Langmead putting Burton 2-0 up. Things looked rather comfortable for Albion with the slick passing and decent movement coming from Jacques Maghoma down the left combining with the ever energetic Robbie Weir in the centre, all that soon changed as a Northampton free kick was headed in by Langmead, amending for his earlier boob and giving the away side hope.
Northampton were fully in the ascendancy and piled forward with Akinfenwa using his significant weight advantage to bundle a shot off the post. At the point Gary Rowetts inexperience told as he hurridly brought on Nathan Stanton, a centre back, for striker Matt Paterson inadvertantly encouraging the pressure from the away side. This move proved fatal as the Cobblers' struck the equaliser through centre half David Artell's effort at the far post beating Stuart Tomlinson to level the game.
Fans became restless on the Albion terrace and abuse directed at Rowett seemed justified until Zander Diamond leapt like a salmon to beat 'keeper Nicholls and put Burton back in front! Incredible scenes at the Pirelli followed as Northampton once again looked a beaten side. That was until Alex Nicholls recieved the ball down the right and placed a sublime chip over the stranded Tomlinson for 3-3, the away end in raptures and Albion fans suffering yet more deja vu after the game in midweek.
Another lead lost and a point gained, the ultimate in bittersweet for Burton and a lesson learned for Rowett. Tuesday night sees Albion travel to Essex (shaaat 'aaaap) to face Southend in what should be a tough encounter.
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