Bristol Rovers inflicted a hammering on 10-man Burton, who saw Conor Shaughnessy red-carded inside the first minute.
The Albion defender was penalised for a foul on Aaron Collins just outside the box and referee Ross Joyce had no hesitation in producing the red card.
Rovers had never won at Burton in six previous attempts but promptly set about putting that right as Antony Evans swept home from the free-kick that followed Shaughnessy’s dismissal.
The former Everton midfielder then had time and space to pick out defender James Connolly at the back post to sweep home and have the visitors two up inside 12 minutes.
Albion had been three down at Wycombe in the season opener last season and this was worse as Collins fired in a quick-fire brace in four minutes before half-time, both times finding space on the left-hand side of the box to beat beleaguered keeper Ben Garratt.
John Marquis planted a header against the crossbar as the visitors went in search of a fifth in the second half, but they could not inflict any more damage on Albion.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Burton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Garratt
- 2Brayford
- 5Hughes
- 16ShaughnessyBooked at 1mins
- 37Hamer
- 4Oshilaja
- 12OnyangoSubstituted forAhadmeat 62′minutes
- 11SmithBooked at 14minsSubstituted forDe Castroat 62′minutes
- 10Keillor-Dunn
- 3Borthwick-JacksonSubstituted forButcherat 45′minutesBooked at 64mins
- 14AdeboyejoSubstituted forPowellat 63′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Butcher
- 7Powell
- 9Ahadme
- 24Sinisalo
- 25Gilligan
- 31Moult
- 32De Castro
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Belshaw
- 28Gibbons
- 30Hoole
- 2Connolly
- 3GordonSubstituted forSaundersat 73′minutes
- 19Anderson
- 6FinleySubstituted forWhelanat 66′minutesBooked at 72mins
- 21EvansSubstituted forLawrenceat 89′minutes
- 10Collins
- 9Marquis
- 18LoftSubstituted forKilgourat 88′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Kilgour
- 22Saunders
- 25Whelan
- 27Greenslade
- 31Ward
- 34Lawrence
- 44Jones
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
- Attendance:
- 3,363
Live Text
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Match ends, Burton Albion 0, Bristol Rovers 4.
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Second Half ends, Burton Albion 0, Bristol Rovers 4.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by John Brayford.
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Attempt missed. James Gibbons (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James Gibbons.
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Attempt missed. Harvey Saunders (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by John Marquis.
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Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Jerry Lawrence replaces Antony Evans.
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Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Alfie Kilgour replaces Ryan Loft.
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Offside, Bristol Rovers. Antony Evans tries a through ball, but Harvey Saunders is caught offside.
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James Belshaw (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Quevin De Castro (Burton Albion).
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Attempt blocked. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Marquis.
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Attempt saved. Quevin De Castro (Burton Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joe Powell.
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Offside, Burton Albion. Thomas Hamer tries a through ball, but Gassan Ahadme is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. James Gibbons (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
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Attempt saved. Antony Evans (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by John Marquis.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Thomas Hamer.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Calum Butcher.
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Attempt blocked. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Antony Evans.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Thomas Hamer.
