Ben Amos produces a rocky display as brutal Brewers hit Charlton for four.

Burton Albion secured just their second win of the season yesterday as they dismantled promotion hopefuls Charlton 4-2.

Lucas Akins and Joe Powell provided the home side with an initial two-goal lead before Sam Hughes and Charles Vernam opened their Brewers goalscoring accounts, denying Charlton any chance of a possible comeback.

In what was, in actual fact, a fairly even encounter, questions are sure to be asked of Addicks’ goalkeeper Ben Amos, whose shaky performance helped Burton on their way to victory. 

Amos’ first real involvement was in the 6th minute. Powell, who joined the Brewers after his West Ham departure in the summer, found himself within shooting range just a few yards outside of the Charlton penalty area, though his curled effort provided no real danger for Amos on this occasion as the 30-year-old graciously clung onto the ball which was aimed straight at him.

Two minutes later, Charlton found themselves behind and Amos may well have been kicking himself. Addicks defender Chris Gunter, in no real danger, passed the ball straight into the path of Akins who was rushing towards goal. Amos, who had ran well out of the six yard box to place pressure on the Burton forward, got a weak right hand to the initial effort, but couldn’t stop the ball from trickling underneath him, leaving Akins to tap home into an empty net. 

Perhaps harsh to call the opener a mistake on Amos’ behalf, as he did technically produce the initial save, there were no signs of a drop in confidence as the former Manchester United shot-stopper rose well in the 20th minute to collect Burton’s corner ball with a firm grip.

Almost twenty minutes passed before he was next called into action. This time it certainly wouldn’t be harsh to call it his mistake as the Brewers doubled their advantage. Upon receiving the ball from teammate Darren Pratley, the Charlton goalkeeper was placed under pressure by Ryan Edwards who forced him to pass the ball directly to Powell. Unmarked and in front of goal, the 22-year-old made no error as he dinked his shot over a dazed Amos to make it 2-0.

Moments later Amos’ blushes were slightly spared as Charlton pulled one back through Paul Smyth. A corner was played into the Burton box, kept alive by Alex Gilbey, Gunter and Ben Watson before finding Smyth. His initial header was cleared off the line by Edwards, fortunately for the Addicks it fell straight back to Smyth who fired his close range effort into the top left-hand corner meaning the Brewers’ advantage was halved heading into the break.

Six minutes into the second half, a sloppy backpass was aimed towards Amos who, despite his best efforts, couldn’t keep the ball in play with his sliding attempt. A corner followed and so did Burton’s third. A short corner routine was eventually worked to Vernam, just inside of the box, the 24-year-old’s delivery met the head of Hughes. Amos reacted well to make the save at first, but ultimately couldn’t do anything about the defender scoring the rebound.

Redemption was again in sight for the Addicks by the 67th minute as Chuks Aneke met the cross of substitute Albie Morgan, took the ball down on his chest and unleashed an audacious overhead kick past Kieran O’Hara and into the top right hand corner. A goal that really deserved a crowd. With just over twenty minutes left to play, the game was still up for grabs for either side.

Fast forward ten minutes and the same could not be said. Burton had once again installed their two goal cushion courtesy of a close-ranged Vernam strike. The former Grimsby Town striker did well to wriggle his way past a number of Charlton defenders before finishing past the outstretched arms of Amos, who, in reality, couldn’t do anything to stop that shot hitting the back of the net.

Amos unsettled his teammates nerves once more in the 81st minute as he slipped taking a free-kick, the lack of direction was nothing to worry about this time, however, as Burton failed to keep possession. This was his last real involvement, in what was realistically a very disappointing evening for the Englishman.

In a thoroughly fascinating, end-to-end encounter between two sides at opposite ends of the League One table, Burton Albion ultimately deserved all three points, albeit due to a dose of fortune. Charlton will feel unlucky, as without Amos’ individual errors, they could have returned home with a point.

The result means that the Brewers finally have their long awaited second victory of the season and move up to 22nd in the table, whereas for Charlton their third defeat of the season sees them drop a place to 6th. 

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