Port Vale 0 - 4 Burton Albion FC: Leaders Burton cruise at Port Vale to stay on course for automatic promotion

Posted Sunday, March 20, 2016 by PA

Leaders Burton Albion took another sizeable step towards automatic promotion with a crushing 4-0 victory at play-off chasers Port Vale.

JJ Hooper spurned a clear chance to give Vale a 19th-minute lead when he fired wide after Michael O'Connor's pass caused confusion in the visitors' defence.

But Burton improved as the half wore on and Vale keeper Jak Alnwick made a fine save from Calum Butcher shortly before the visitors took a 34th-minute lead.

Vale were short of numbers at the back during a swift Albion counter attack and Lucas Akins slid a low left-foot shot from 15 yards inside Alnwick's left-hand post from Tom Naylor's pass.

The goal gave the visitors a boost and they caused further problems for Vale before an own goal by the unfortunate Anthony Grant doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time.

Richard Duffy fouled the elusive Stuart Beavon and Mark Duffy's dangerous free-kick looped up off the head of Grant and dropped into the left-hand corner of the stranded Alnwick's net.

Burton were in cruise control five minutes after the interval when Mark Duffy cut in from the left and drove an unstoppable left-foot shot from 20 yards just inside Alnwick's right-hand post.

And more excellent approach work led to a fourth goal on the hour. Akins pulled the ball back from the left byline and Butcher had plenty of time to take aim and fire a low right-foot shot inside Alnwick's right-hand post from 12 yards.