City held to goalless draw by Burton

Chances were in short supply for both teams on the day with City's best coming in the second-half when Alex Pritchard was thwarted by Stephen Bywater.

With it being City’s third game in eight days, Daniel Farke made six changes to his starting eleven. In defence, James Husband made his return from injury and replaced Jamal Lewis and Grant Hanley came in for Timm Klose. Harrison Reed earned a recall in place of Alex Tettey and the whole attacking midfield trio was swapped with Marley Watkins, Mario Vrancic and Wes Hoolahan coming in.

Burton started the quicker of the two sides and went close to taking the lead inside five minutes. Kyle McFadzean’s long free-kick forward was headed across goal by Ben Turner and Tom Naylor was foiled by Angus Gunn from close-range.

That moment was a key indicator of what was to come for City as their opponents proved a real threat from set-pieces in the first-half. On 20 minutes, a corner from the right was spilled by Gunn under pressure and Hoolahan was forced to clear a Turner effort off the line.

A few minutes later, Naylor rippled the side netting with a low drive from the edge before the referee turned down City penalty appeals at the other end after Husband appeared to have been fouled by Sean Scannell in the box. The left-back was subsequently booked for simulation.

City began the second half well and intricate play by Oliveira and Hoolahan almost resulted in a goalscoring opportunity. The Irishman raced clear down the right and into the box but his cutback was stolen by a Burton defender.

Chances were few and far between for both sides and from a City perspective, Farke decided to introduce Pritchard and James Maddison in the hope of turning the game in City’s favour.

The two linked up within moments of coming on and it was Pritchard who dribbled down the left, cut in and had a low drive well saved by Bywater on 79 minutes.

Gunn produced a terrific save to thwart John Brayford’s cross-cum-shot in the final ten minutes as City were forced to settle for a point in Derbyshire.