JOE Powell scored twice to earn a precious 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic and his first home league win of the season.
Albion had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after Charlie Hughes scored for the visitors before half-time from a rare Wigan chance, but Albion were level in the middle of Powell’s thunderous finish before the turnaround from the penalty spot. Kell Watts dealt with Powell’s cross, giving the midfielder a chance to head home from twelve yards.
Bess Lubala was last sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Albion hanging on for the final minutes, but Powell had done enough for the three points.
Josh Gordon replaces Mason Bennett as the former Millwall man returns to action after recovering from injury. Gordon slotted into the front three straight away as Bennett dropped to the bench for the visit of Latics.
Latics went close to an early lead when captain Josh Magennis won a long ball and his first-time shot was blocked by Ryan Sweeney and Albion ran wild at the loss of a follow-up corner. – All within the first minute.
Mark Helm went down in the box under a challenge from Omar Recic in the twelfth minute, but referee Sunny Singh Gill was unmoved to award a penalty. It was a sign that Albion were progressing into the match when Bess Lubala steered a header into the arms of goalkeeper Sam Dickel after good work from Tom Hammer down the right.
Callum McManaman was able to escape from behind the Burton defense moments later but could only poke a shot across goal and wide of the far post under pressure from Sam Hughes.
Kwadwo Bah fouled Baba Adiko near the touchline, earning the Latics man a yellow card in the process, but Wigan managed to clear Joe Powell’s free kick despite a number of unseen shirt pulls on Sam Hughes in the box.
Albion were warming to their task and the ball didn’t quite fall to Gordon when he spilled a low cross from Tickle Lubala, although the striker certainly tested the Latics keeper moments later with a curling effort that tipped over the bar.
Lubala drilled a low effort wide of the far post as Wigan carelessly handed possession inside their own half. Gordon was also getting his eye on a surge that wasn’t even close to halftime.
All their attacking Albion bodies found themselves behind on the stroke of half-time when they fired home from the edge of the box through the crowd.
Half time: Burton Albion 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Wigan made one change in the second half, sending off Adigo who came dangerously close to a second yellow card at the end of the first half.
Former Brewers midfielder Sean Clare picked up a yellow card for a foul on Pah, and the Watford loanee had little space to curl in a teasing cross that appeared to clip a Wigan arm in the box. Competition Officer.
As the game went past the hour mark, Powell forced a scrambling save from Diggle as Albion looked to equalise.
Clare inadvertently leveled Albion at half-time.
Albion turned to Bennett from the bench for the final eighteen minutes after a hard-worked switch from Gordon on the right.
Powell was the spot-kick for the Brewers on 84 minutes when referee Gill adjudged that the Albion midfielder’s cross had hit the arm of Kell Watts, and Albion’s scorer grabbed his second of the night from the spot.
Albion had to try the game with ten men when Lubala picked up a second yellow card for a clumsy foul. Pah was sacrificed to play Jake Caprice and strengthen the backline for the rest of the game.
Wigan had no way, as Albion finally sealed their first home league win of the campaign.
Albion: Cromp; Hammer, Hughes, Sweeney, Seddon; Helm, Powell, Oshilaja; Gordon (Bennett, 72), Lubala, Pa (Cabris, 90+2).
Subs: Blackman, Harper, Walker, Gareyol, Gilligan.
Goals: Albion – Powell (68, 84 pen); Wigan – Hughes (44)
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
Attendance: 2,527