Competing in the Bass Charity Vase Blades boss Nigel Clough returned to his former club only to be beaten by four goals without reply - the United chief opted to field two sides, fielding an XI in the first 45 minutes of play and a second in the second half. The teams were;
Burton Albion: Anyon, Edwards, Taft, Sharps (c), McFadzean, MacDonald, Weir, Palmer, Akins, Beavon, Knowles. Subs: Lyness, Cansdell-Sherriff, McGurk, Slade, Harness, Ribiero, Verheydt, Shelton, O'Brien, Austin, Cranston, Cutajar.
Sheffield United United (1st half team): Howard, Davies, Collins, Butler, Paling, Doyle, Reed, Dimaio, Campbell-Ryce, Murphy, Porter.
Sheffield United United (2nd half team): Long, Alcock, Maguire, McGahey, Harris, Crawford, Basham, McGinn, Scougall, Baxter, De Girolamo.
United started the first half with Academy player Paling starting at left full-back whilst Burton fielded Callum McFadzean. Last season’s top scorer Chris Porter missed the opening chance but keeper Anyon saved comfortably. Albion then took the lead with little over five minutes played. Akins supplied a cross into the box and MacDONALD was in prime position unmarked to fire home after Palmer failed to get his shot in.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce produced a couple of tasty deliveries into the box from the right hand side with no one able to convert. On 13 minutes Burton doubled their advantage - Beavon charged down the left and hit a low cross for AKINS to finish past Howard. Ten minutes later it almost got worse, Beavon found Howard out of position on the edge of the box, he played through to Knowles but Andy Butler prevented his attacker from getting the deadly shot in.
At the other end Conor Dimaio fired wide and captain Doyle fired over the top. There were also penalty appeals from both sides but ignored by referee Moss but shortly before the break Burton extended their lead to three. McFadzean delivered a right-wing corner and KNOWLES headed home unmarked before wheeling away in celebration.
The first half ended with the Blades behind at three goals to nil. Clough changed the XI, introducing talented youngster Diego De Girlolamo and trialist Crawford on the right. On 70 minutes the De Girlolamo saw his penalty appeal waved away as the team showed improvement to that which contested the first half and eight minutes later Harry Maguire looked destined to score when he rose highest following a Alcock cross but Cansdell-Sherriff booted away,
With the game closing to full-time Burton added one more, Harness forged an impressive run which ended with CUTAJAR hitting home on the half-volley which proved unstoppable for Long despite getting a hand to it.
Thunder, lightning and rain poured over the Pirelli Stadium as the game drew to a close and late efforts from Baxter and De Girlolamo would have proved scant consolations in front of the 2,124 crowd which saw more than 1,000 turn up from Sheffield.