Burton win five-goal tussle

INVOLVED AT BOTH ENDS . . . Ryan McLaughlin

ATHLETIC 2, BURTON ALBION 3

LUCAS Akins slotted in the decisive penalty in the 86th minute to send Athletic out of the Carabao Cup at the first-round stage.

Ryan McLaughlin was adjudged to have tripped Damien McCrory as the full-back burst into the penalty area towards the end of a goal-laden second period.

The Championship had taken the lead through Luke Varney only for Athletic to race in front through goals by Paul Green and Craig Davies, the latter from the penalty spot.

Matty Lund levelled for the Championship club, though, and in the end Nigel Clough's men prevailed.

Athletic started the game slowly and Ben Wilson produced saves from Varney and Hope Akpan, before Aaron Amadi-Holloway's header rebounded off ex-favourite Connor Ripley's left-hand post.

Ousmane Fane's poor back-pass allowed Varney to open the scoring in the 47th minute, rounding the exposed Wilson.

Athletic hit back on 55 minutes when Green's searching free-kick went straight in beyond Ripley as Peter Clarke tried to get a touch on it inside the six-yard box.

And the hosts went in front from the penalty spot. McLaughlin was bundled over in the area by Ben Fox and substitute Davies slotted in as Ripley dived the wrong way.

But Lund levelled two minutes later. His finish in the 69th minute was first-time, off a low cross from the right by Joe Sbarra.

Akins had the final word, though there was still time for a Clarke header to be saved – only just – as Ripley scooped the ball out and against his own post right at the death.