Burton Albion 0, York City 0

McEwan held an half-hour dressing-room inquest into the Minstermen's shortcomings after Saturday's contest and the paint might have been peeling off the walls with his protestations had the match been held at any other Conference venue than Burton's impressive new Pirelli Stadium.

The City manager's wrath was once more an indication of the high standards he demands from his players, as well as a measure of how far the side has progressed since last season when a goalless draw at a top-ten side would have been welcomed with a more favourable reaction.

But this season, however unexpectedly, the KitKat Crescent club have top-five aspirations and, with only six games to go, McEwan is fully aware of the need for victories.

Considering Burton's first half supremacy, though, City supporters, if not McEwan, might reflect on a point gained rather than two discarded.

The visitors failed to manage a shot or force one corner in the opening 45 minutes, which was a poor effort even allowing for the strong wind into their faces.

Burton should have taken greater advantage of their territorial superiority but Chris Porter pushed a firm shot from former Scarborough winger Keith Gilroy over his crossbar on seven minutes and Darren Tinson headed narrowly over the bar after climbing above David McGurk to meet an Andy Ducros corner.

Gilroy then saw a bobbling strike turned behind by Porter and Nathan Peat, who had endured an erratic start to the match, cleared a goalbound Gary Rowett header.

McEwan's half-time thoughts and playing with the elements instead of against them no doubt combined for a better start to the second half.

Within 50 seconds of the restart, the Minstermen had won their first flag-kick and, seconds later, Clayton Donaldson forced a first save of the afternoon from home 'keeper Saul Deeney.

But City's best chance of scoring arrived on 49 minutes and the visitors could not have hoped for a more appropriate player to be sent clear on goal after Emmanuel Panther's long pass had sailed over the heads of a flat home defence.

Former Derby County defender Rowett kept Andy Bishop well shackled at all other times in an impressive display for the Brewers but could only look on as the Conference's top scorer bore down on Deeney's goal, hoping to claim his 20th league goal of the season.

But the Burton goalkeeper charged off his line, spread himself well and made enough contact to deflect Bishop's attempt over the bar.

Moments later, Porter similarly came to the rescue for City, saving with his feet after Shaun Harrad had been sent clear by a Darren Stride through ball.

Daryl Clare then fired into the side-netting from a tight angle for Burton while Donaldson chose to use his head rather than his foot when Mark Convery picked him out in the home penalty box and his effort lacked the power to beat Deeney.

McGurk cleared off the line on 64 minutes after Harrad's header had beaten Porter and Clare also shot straight at the City 'keeper from 15 yards after Peat had driven wide from 35 yards at the other end.

Porter then strained every muscle in his fingers to divert a Clare cross that was destined to be tapped in by an unmarked Ducros and the Minstermen stopper was also equal to a curling 20-yard Kris Taylor shot on 88 minutes.

Burton had a couple of late scares when Donaldson tackled Deeney outside his 18-yard box but the ball broke for home defender Tinson to clear.

Andy Bishop and last man Rowett also grappled for a through ball but referee Oliver Langford decided it was a case of both players offending equally.

The visitors' top two performers on the day then safeguarded a point in the final minute, goalkeeper Porter punching away a dangerous Ducros free-kick before McGurk blocked Taylor's shot.

Match facts

Burton Albion 0, York City 0

City ratings: Key: 10 - Faultless; 9 - Outstanding; 8 - Excellent; 7 - Good; 6 - Average; 5 - Below par; 4 - Poor; 3 - Dud; 2 - Hopeless; 1 - Retire

Porter 8

Price 6 (Thomas 67, 6)

Dudgeon 6

McGurk 8

Peat 6

Convery 6

N Bishop 6

Panther 6

Dunning 7

A Bishop 6

Donaldson 6

Subs (not used): Reid, Hotte, Merris, O'Neill

Star man: McGurk - City's defensive lynchpin made several vital interventions.

Burton: Saul Deeney, Andy Corbett, Darren Tinson, Gary Rowett, Aaron Webster, Chris Hall (Jon Shaw, 83), Darren Stride, Andy Ducros, Keith Gilroy (Kris Taylor, 76), Shaun Harrad, Daryl Clare. Subs not used: Terry Henshaw, Ryan Austin, Jon Shaw, Christian Moore.

Yellow cards: McGurk 54, Tinson 54, Stride 75, Ducros 90, Dudgeon 90.

Referee: Oliver Langford (Darlaston) rating: reasonably sensible.

Attendance: 2,605.

Weather watch: Bright and breezy.

Game breaker: Had Andy Bishop scored City would have probably won the game, but he cannot be expected to hit the target every time.

Match rating: Not a classic. A draw was a fair result and City cannot afford too many repeat performances if their play-off hopes are to be kept alive.

McEwan's verdict: "A draw was a fair result. We could have scored but they could have had a couple as well."

Player watch: Clayton Donaldson

Shots on target: 1

Shots off target: 1

Blocked shots: 0

Passes to own player: 7

Passes to opposition: 5

Crosses to own player: 0

Crosses to opposition: 2

Pass success rate: 50 per cent

Dribbles ball retained: 4

Dribbles ball lost: 9

Dribble success rate: 44.4 per cent

Headers: 8 Tackles: 4

Clearances, blocks and interceptions: 0

Free-kicks won: 2 Free-kicks conceded: 4 Offsides: 0

Yellow cards: 0

Final summary: Clayton Donaldson worked hard but got few breaks. Surprisingly committed more fouls than he was fouled against and his two attempts at goal - one a weak on-target header and the other an off-target stab wide when he was unbalanced -were both disappointing. Never really utilised his pace to get behind the Burton defence.

Updated: 10:19 Monday, April 03, 2006