Burton Albion FC 1 - 0 Rochdale : Rochdale undone by Joe Rafferty own goal at Burton

Joe Rafferty's own goal handed Burton a 1-0 Sky Bet League One win over fellow high-fliers Rochdale.

A tight contest was decided when the full-back diverted the ball past goalkeeper Josh Lillis midway through the first half.

Burton's wayward finishing had let Dale off the hook in the opening stages, with Lillis happy to watch shots from Lucas Akins, Calum Butcher and Mark Duffy fly high or wide.

But the stopper was caught out when Stuart Beavon got the faintest of touches to a Duffy free-kick and the ball bounced in off Rafferty's shin to give the hosts a 24th-minute lead - just after they had been forced to replace their own keeper Jon McLaughlin because of injury.

Butcher fired too high as Burton tried to stretch their lead in what had developed into a scrappy encounter.

Another home chance went begging in the 72nd minute when Beavon teed up Akins only for the winger to drag his 10-yard shot wide.

Then Beavon was denied by the legs of Lillis as Dale continued to struggle for chances to test substitute keeper Remi Matthews at the other end.