ALBION suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town as the visitors came from behind to grab all three points.
Substitute Steve Seddon gave Albion the lead in first half stoppage time but goals from Matty Taylor and a header from veteran defender Curtis Davies extended Albion’s run of poor results at home and tightened up the battle to stay up.
With John Brayford missing out with the injury that forced him off at Stevenage on Saturday Ryan Sweeney returned having missed the last game due to personal circumstances. Up front Joe Hugill carried on in attack having replaced Mason Bennett at half time at The Lamex.
A cagey start to the game saw little in the way of chances in the first quarter of an hour but Albion tested out the Robins defence with a couple of dangerous Joe Powell corners that the Town defence managed to scramble away. Mark Helm then wriggled past a couple of challenges in midfield to fire an angled shot across Luke Southwood but wide of the post.
As both sides struggled to find any rhythm Albion suffered a blow when Tom Hamer had to be replaced having picked up a couple of knocks throughout the first half. He eventually succumbed and was replaced by Seddon on 35 minutes.
Hugill stretched for a cross as the half ticked towards half time and managed to put it back into the danger area but the Robins were able to get the ball away at the expense of another corner and a chance to regroup.
When Albion got the breakthrough it was from Jasper Moon’s long throw, flicked on by Sam Hughes and SEDDON was there to drive home from close range.
HALF TIME – BURTON ALBION 1-0 CHELTENHAM TOWN
The visitors needed a boost after the break and substitute Jordan Thomas provided it with a cross from a free kick that found TAYLOR at the back post and he looped his header perfectly over Crocombe.
An attacking change just before the hour mark saw Bobby Kamwa added to the attacking armoury with Rekeem Harper sacrificed from the midfield and that was quickly followed by Mustapha Carayol replacing Toto Nsiala.
Joe Nuttall had half a sight of goal for Cheltenham on 70 minutes as Albion covered with Seddon temporarily off the field after treatment but Moon got across to get a block on the ball to divert it away from goal.
It brought about a corner from which Town took the lead, DAVIES rising highest to head home.
Albion desperately needed an equaliser and Hugill got his head to a teasing Kamwa cross but could not keep his effort on target.
Much as Albion pushed there was no way back despite nine added minutes at the end of the game eaving everything on the final two games of the season.
ALBION: Crocombe; Nsiala (Carayol, 62), Hughes, Sweeney; Moon, Harper (Kamwa, 57), Powell, Helm, Hamer (Seddon, 35); Oshilaja, Hugill.
Substitutes: Blackman, Ola-Adebomi, Gilligan, Hackford.
GOALS: ALBION – Seddon (45+4) ; CHELTENHAM – Taylor (51), Davies (71)
Referee: Benjamin Speedie
Attendance: 3,020
