City lost top spot in League One after goalless draw with Burton

City lost top spot in League One following a frustrating goalless draw against Burton Albion on a miserable night at the Pirelli Stadium.

The visitors arrived at the stadium sitting at the summit of the division, but left having surrendered their position at the top. According to BBC coverage, the fixture marked a strong defensive marker for the Brewers, who are currently experiencing their strongest start to a campaign in five seasons. Gary Bowyer's side moved to 14 points from 12 games, placing them 14th and sitting just four points outside the top six. For comparison, the club previously amassed 16 points at the same stage under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink during the 2021-22 campaign.

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Reporting for The Telegraph and Argus, sports reporter Nathan Atkinson noted that City created plenty of attacking pressure in the second half but lacked clinical execution. Michael Duff insisted his side deserved to win the match, though that assessment was characterized as slightly overstating their overall dominance. City racked up 18 shots over the course of the evening, yet barely tested Burton goalkeeper Corey Addai. The closest City came to breaking the deadlock arrived when Nick Powell's low ball squirted back to Antoni Sarcevic, who drilled a shot toward goal. A deflection made the effort even more difficult, but Addai somehow managed to get a strong hand to the ball and tip it over the crossbar.

Burton's defensive unit stood firm against sustained pressure, particularly dealing with Bradford's threat from set-pieces. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Toby Sibbick reflected on the resilient performance.

"It was a good point at the end of the day. They ask questions of the defence and stick it on you. They're really good at set-pieces, and I thought we did really well, so overall it's a great point."

Toby Sibbick, Burton defender, via BBC

Sibbick also pointed to the broader cultural shift at the club since Bowyer took charge. Bowyer arrived in December 2024 when Burton sat nine points adrift of safety after securing just two wins from their opening 20 league games. He engineered a survival campaign described as a miracle, guided them to safety by a single point in the 2025-26 season, and then oversaw further improvement with a 17th-placed finish last term. According to Sibbick, the squad is now embracing the tactical freedom provided by the coaching staff.

"The staff have been really good with us this season. They've given us the freedom to play and get into good positions to show our talents. It starts from us at the back having the bravery to get on the ball, and give it to the forward players and hopefully they can work their magic."

Toby Sibbick, Burton defender, via BBC

Tactical adjustments were visible on both sides during the encounter. With Josh Neufville sidelined due to injury, Corey O'Keeffe stepped in at right wing back in place of Kayden Jackson and earned strong praise for his energetic runs, solid defensive work, and excellent set-piece delivery. Meanwhile, Will Swan entered the fray on the right of a formation that resembled a 5-1-3-1, combining effectively with Jake Beesley. Late substitutions saw Jackson introduced after Stephen Humphrys picked up an injury, hinting that Duff may continue experimenting with his attacking options.

Discipline proved a minor footnote on an otherwise tense evening, with bookings handed out to Raphael, Ryan Tilt, Toby Sibbick, and Kegs Krubally for Burton, alongside Sarcevic for the visitors.

Despite the defensive solidity shown against the league frontrunners, Sibbick acknowledged that Burton's home form requires urgent attention. The Brewers have secured only one league victory at the Pirelli Stadium so far, a record the squad is eager to amend.

"I think that's something we need to start doing, winning more at home. We need to make this place tough to come. It's been a decent start for us, but we want to improve on it, and start climbing up the table, not looking behind us."

Toby Sibbick, Burton defender, via BBC

What to watch next

• Burton Albion prepares to host fellow mid-table side Leyton Orient at the Pirelli Stadium as they look to improve their home win record.
• Bradford City must regroup following their loss of top spot in League One as manager Michael Duff assesses fitness concerns surrounding Stephen Humphrys and Josh Neufville.