Burton Albion 1-0 Bristol Rovers

Robbie Weir ended Bristol Rovers' five-game unbeaten run in a game which saw three players sent off.

He lashed home a 25-yard shot after earlier being on the receiving end of a reckless challenge which led to Chris Beardsley being dismissed.

Ollie Clarke had an effort blocked on the line by home skipper Ian Sharps.

Burton's Jimmy Phillips picked up a second yellow card in added time, before John-Joe O'Toole saw red for Rovers after a clash in the box.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Burton manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:

"We started brightly. I thought Dominic Knowles and Adam McGurk were very lively up front and it justified playing them together.

"And then we had a little spell towards the end of the first half where we got frustrated and couldn't quite keep it going.

"It's a shame, but that first sending-off changed the game completely.

"We've had it go against us so many times so I suppose people who say it evens out over a season could be right today."

Bristol Rovers boss John Ward:

"We've tried to get back in a game at 1 - 0, it's decided by a terrific strike but no one will talk about that.

"It's a late tackle and the referee has seen it as a red card. I agree that it's a late tackle and the referee has shown a red card which is his decision not mine.

"Anytime a player gets sent off from the field it changes the game, but I think my team stood up really well and stayed in the game as we've talked about at half time.

"We still had a chance going into the last few minutes, then we lost another player through a foolish act."