GARY Rowett ended a week in which he turned down a move to seasiders Blackpool by watching his Burton Albion side coast to a second-half victory over York City.

The Minstermen more than matched their table-topping hosts during a well-contested opening 45 minutes but lost their way after the break as a Brewers team, who looked strong in every department, secured a seventh successive home win thanks to Lucas Akins and John Mousinho goals.

It was a defeat that saw City beaten on the road in a league match for the first time since January’s 2-0 loss at Hartlepool.

Disregarding the play-offs, Nigel Worthington’s players also experienced their first reverse in any regular league fixture for 24 contests.

The quality of opposition deserve significant recognition for their role in ending that run but City’s attacking threat appeared to diminish in tandem with Wes Fletcher’s fitness levels at the Pirelli Stadium.

Once Fletcher ran out of steam, the visitors struggled to trouble a well-drilled Burton back line, while the home side stretched City’s back four with the positive attacking play of strikers Adam McGurk and Stuart Beavon, complemented by dangerous raids down the wings by Akins and Alex MacDonald.

The influence of classy midfield anchorman Mousinho also grew as the game progressed, culminating in the thunderous 30-yard strike that settled matters on 80 minutes.

Earlier, McGurk called Michael Ingham into action on three minutes after Lindon Meikle had surrendered possession to former on-loan Minnsterman George Taft, who charged forward from left back.

An overhit Femi Ilesanmi free kick, from a yard inside his own half, almost caught out Burton keeper Jon McLaughlin moments later but the ex-Bradford City shot-stopper managed to claw the ball out from under his own crossbar.

Luke Summerfield’s firm 25-yard drive then bounced awkwardly in front of McLaughlin, who conceded a corner that John McCombe headed over.

On 13 minutes, McGurk could not keep his header down either from Akins’ centre and Keith Lowe came to City’s rescue just before the half-hour mark.

Last season’s Press Player of the Year raced back to the goal-line to head away Mousinho’s 25-yard lob after Ingham had vacated his net to punch clear.

After the break, McLaughlin smothered at Anthony Straker’s feet following a flowing City move but Burton made the breakthrough on 55 minutes.

Akins, who swapped from the right flank to the left at the beginning of the second half, had already threatened twice since the restart before sweeping past Ingham from ten yards.

He pounced on the loose ball after MacDonald had outstripped Ilesanmi on the right wing and Lowe had brilliantly blocked a goalbound McGurk effort.

Another long-range Summerfield drive, teed up by Straker, was gathered at the second attempt by McLaughlin just past the hour but McGurk rattled Ingham’s cross bar from 12 yards and fired narrowly over after cutting in from the left flank.

In between, Meikle fired high into the sidenetting from an unfavourable angle and, on 79 minutes, nimble footwork by Michael Coulson saw him tiptoe into a promising shooting position but his ten-yard attempt was saved low to his left by McLaughlin.

Within seconds, Mousinho put the outcome beyond doubt, finding Ingham’s bottom right-hand corner with an emphatic, first-half strike after Ilesanmi had halted a Robbie Weir run on the edge of the home penalty box.

Substitute Jake Hyde went on to clear the crossbar with a dipping volley, skipper Russell Penn curled another shot straight into McLaughlin’s stomach and Coulson lifted a 90th-minute chance too high, leaving the Minstermen with just one point from a possible 15 from their last five visits to the Staffordshire side.


Match facts

Burton Albion 2 (Akins 55, Mousinho 80), York City 0

York City

Ingham 6 – looked a little nervous on a couple of crosses but helpless for either goal.

McCoy 7 – tested by both wingers but generally rose to challenge.

STAR MAN Lowe 8 – put his body on the line and refused to surrender.

McCombe 8 – made countless perfectly-timed tackles.

Ilesanmi 7 – beaten too easily in build up to first goal but determined otherwise.

Meikle 5 – failed to trouble ex-Minsterman Taft.

Penn 7 – competed throughout and didn’t shy away from battle.

Summerfield 6 – managed a couple of long-range strikes but wait for first goal continues.

Straker 6 – had a couple of good moments but peripheral at times.

Coulson 6 – industrious as ever, while well contained by Burton.

Fletcher 6 – worried home side in first half but faded after break.

Subs: Jake Hyde 6 – positive (for Straker, 63), Tom Platt (for Meikle, 82).

Subs not used: Jason Mooney, Ryan Jarvis, Lewis Montrose, Dave Winfield, Ben Hirst.

Burton: Jon McLaughlin, Phil Edwards, Ian Sharps, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, George Taft, Lucas Akins, Robbie Weir, John Mousinho, Alex MacDonald (Marcus Harness, 82), Adam McGurk (Matty Palmer, 90), Stuart Beavon (Jacob Blyth, 78). Subs not used: Dean Lyness, Callum McFadzean, Dominic Knowles, Liam Slade.

Burton star man: Mousinho – quality goal and rarely wasted a pass Booked: None.

Attendance: 2,890

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire) rating: 6/10 – made a couple of glaring errors, but had no bearing on result

Shots on target: Burton 8, City 6

Shots off target: Burton 7, City 7

Corners: Burton 6, City 8

Fouls conceded: Burton 11, City 15

Offsides: Burton 3, City 0