Burton secure second season in Championship with point from Barnsley trip
Burton secured their Sky Bet Championship status by clinching a point from a 1-1 draw at Barnsley.
George Moncur put the home side in front towards the end of the first half but a goal from substitute Luke Varney soon after the restart ensured Burton's survival.
Burton went into the game knowing that a point would be enough to keep them in the second tier for a second season.
Moncur saw his early low drive comfortably saved by Stephen Bywater and Burton's first chance of note fell to Jackson Irvine, whose attempted chip failed to beat Adam Davies.
For the home side, Ryan Kent put a long-range effort over the bar while Luke Murphy did likewise at the other end.
The visitors had a couple of promising openings, firstly when Michael Kightly saw his free-kick deflected wide and then Irvine headed just over from the resulting corner.
But it was Barnsley who took the lead through Moncur in the 38th minute
Kent and Josh Scowen were involved in the build-up and Moncur fired past Bywater from inside the area.
Burton boss Nigel Clough made a change to his line-up for the start of the second half with Lucas Akins coming on in place of Irvine.
The hosts made a bright start to the second period and went close to extending their lead.
Moncur got a shot on target which was saved by Bywater and with the Burton defence failing to fully clear, Tom Bradshaw followed up with an effort which was also kept out by the keeper.
Bywater was then called into action to keep out a spectacular overhead kick from Angus MacDonald, producing a superb save to turn the ball wide.
Clough made a second substitution, sending on Varney as a replacement for Kightly.
It proved to be an inspired move as he scored the equaliser moments after joining the action, meeting a corner from Lasse Vigen Christensen with a header.
Varney was proving to be a thorn in Barnsley's side as he had a deflected shot saved and tested Davies with another effort after the hosts were caught on the break.
Kent put an angled shot wide as Barnsley enjoyed a moment of respite.
Davies had to rush out of his area to clear as Varney threatened to get on the end of a fine through ball.
Kyle McFadzean went close to scoring an own goal when he sliced an attempted clearance from Moncur's cross narrowly wide of Bywater's right-hand post.
There was a scare for Burton in the closing minutes of the game when Bradshaw threatened to find a way through before the ball was eventually hacked clear.
Source : PA
Source: PA