Burton punished for 'appalling' start - Bowyer

Burton Albion boss Gary Bowyer says he "learned a hell of a lot" about his players after an "appalling" start against Doncaster set the relegation-threatened Brewers up for defeat.

The hosts were two goals down at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday inside the opening 12 minutes in a game they eventually lost 2-1.

Luke Molyneux put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot inside two minutes, then played provider for Owen Bailey to double the advantage with a bundled finish.

"You just cannot play any game at any level in the way we did in the first 15 or 20 minutes of the game," Bowyer fumed when talking to BBC Radio Derby after the defeat.

"It was an appalling start."

Bowyer made a triple substitution at half-time as the Brewers looked for a way back into the game and out of the relegation places.

Kyran Lofthouse gave the east Staffordshire side hope with 74th-minute goal but a contentious offside call denied Jake Beesley what would have been an equaliser after that.

Bowyer said he would avoid criticising the match officials, thought he did add he felt the goal was "clearly" onside, in a loss that left Burton third from bottom in the league and in the relegation places on goal difference.

"The reaction in the second half was terrific - the triple substitution, 20 corners, which is probably our record this season, and 20 shots at goal, but didn't have enough on target, it's as simple as that," Bowyer said.

The loss was Burton's third in a four-game winless run, which included a point against leaders Cardiff City on Saturday after being narrowly beaten by promotion contenders Bolton and Lincoln before that.

"It's very easy to play against the top teams - no expectations, nice grounds," Bowyer said.

"Today you really get to see people's character and what they are about, and I've learned a hell of a lot tonight."