A Michael Simpson double helped Burton see off battling Northampton.
Goalkeeper Chris Dunn fumbled a back pass and allowed Shaun Harrad to walk the ball in for the hosts' opener.
Burton grabbed their second as a result of sloppy defending after seven minutes when Simpson's tame shot crept in and, soon after, he fired home their third.
Steve Guinan pulled one back from close range after a Luke Boden shot had been saved and Burton were left hanging on when Ryan Gilligan scored a penalty.
Burton boss Paul Peschisolido told BBC Radio Derby:
"It was one of those games. We had to hold on in the end and thankfully the defenders did their job.
"I started to see the tide changing a bit after five minutes towards the end of the first half, they were starting to get on top.
"So I said we've got to make sure we don't concede a goal as the tide will change and it certainly did. It put us under immense pressure."
Northampton Town manager Stuart Gray told BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was probably the worst nine minutes I've ever been involved in.
"I couldn't believe the errors that we made, 3-0 down - all self-inflicted. We went gung-ho and tried to get back into the game. Credit to them, the response I got from them second half we had a go.
"It's individual errors, a forward can make an error and get away with it whereas a goalkeeper makes an error and we're picking the ball out of the back of the net."
90:00+4:32 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+3:28 Steve Guinan produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00+2:16 John McGrath restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+2:16 Booking Ryan Gilligan receives a caution.
90:00+2:11 Foul by Ryan Gilligan on Russell Penn, free kick awarded.
90:00+1:57 A cross is delivered by Ben Marshall, Guy Branston manages to make a clearance.
90:00+1:22 Guy Branston challenges Dean Beckwith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Gilligan restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Holt on Russell Penn. Paul Boertien takes the indirect free kick.
90:00+0:27 The ball is delivered by Robbie Threlfall, Russell Penn makes a clearance.
90:00 Unfair challenge on Ben Marshall by Michael Simpson results in a free kick. Ryan Gilligan restarts play with the free kick.
88:31 Andrew Holt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Stride. Artur Krysiak restarts play with the free kick.
88:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by John McGrath on Abdul Osman. Ryan Gilligan takes the indirect free kick.
86:31 The ball is delivered by Robbie Threlfall.
85:16 The ball is crossed by Ryan Gilligan.
84:34 Substitution Robbie Threlfall joins the action as a substitute, replacing Luke Boden.
83:06 Foul by Abdul Osman on Russell Penn, free kick awarded. Strike on goal comes in from Shaun Harrad from the free kick.
81:44 Substitution (Burton Albion) makes a substitution, with Darren Stride coming on for Jimmy Phillips.
81:27 Unfair challenge on Shaun Harrad by Ryan Gilligan results in a free kick. John McGrath restarts play with the free kick.
80:07 GOAL - Ryan Gilligan:Burton Albion 3 - 2 Northampton Ryan Gilligan scores a placed penalty. Burton Albion 3-2 Northampton.
79:03 A cross is delivered by Ryan Gilligan, Guy Branston gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Gary Mulligan.
76:06 A cross is delivered by Gary Mulligan, Effort on goal by Andrew Holt from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
74:35 Headed effort from deep inside the area by Andrew Holt misses to the right of the target.
74:12 Handball by Guy Branston. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
72:49 John McGrath fouled by Luke Boden, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John McGrath.
72:06 Steve Guinan concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony James. Tony James takes the free kick.
71:12 Assist on the goal came from Luke Boden.
71:12 GOAL - Steve Guinan:Burton Albion 3 - 1 Northampton Steve Guinan gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Burton Albion 3-1 Northampton.
70:46 Luke Boden takes a shot. Save made by Artur Krysiak.
68:51 Unfair challenge on Abdul Osman by Russell Penn results in a free kick. Abdul Osman restarts play with the free kick.
67:18 Unfair challenge on Andrew Corbett by Billy Mckay results in a free kick. Ryan Austin takes the indirect free kick.
66:28 John McGrath takes the indirect free kick.
66:28 Booking Ben Marshall receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
66:21 Unfair challenge on Jimmy Phillips by Ben Marshall results in a free kick.
66:15 Jimmy Phillips produces a cross, clearance made by Chris McCready.
65:49 Ryan Gilligan challenges Jimmy Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. John McGrath takes the indirect free kick.
65:26 The ball is sent over by Billy Mckay, Steve Guinan takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.
64:09 Unfair challenge on Russell Penn by Billy Mckay results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by John McGrath from right wing, save made by Chris Dunn.
63:17 Ryan Austin takes the indirect free kick.
63:17 Booking Abdul Osman shown a yellow card.
62:55 Abdul Osman concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Harrad.
61:47 Substitution Russell Penn replaces Greg Pearson.
61:18 The ball is swung over by Abdul Osman, Gary Mulligan takes a shot. Artur Krysiak makes a save.
Correction - 60:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Guy Branston on Gary Mulligan. Indirect free kick taken by Luke Boden.
60:34 Guy Branston gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Mulligan. Free kick taken by Luke Boden.
59:29 The ball is swung over by Andrew Holt, Billy Mckay takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.
59:14 Ben Marshall takes a shot. Guy Branston gets a block in.
Correction - 58:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Austin on Andrew Holt. Ben Marshall takes the free kick.
58:00 Andrew Holt fouled by Ryan Austin, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Ben Marshall.
56:46 Shaun Harrad has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
56:20 Abdul Osman challenges John McGrath unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by John McGrath.
54:57 The ball is sent over by Ryan Gilligan, Guy Branston manages to make a clearance.
54:16 Ben Marshall produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.
Correction - 53:20 Indirect free kick taken by Luke Boden.
53:20 Luke Boden takes the free kick.
53:20 Booking Caution for Paul Boertien.
Correction - 53:11 Gary Mulligan fouled by Paul Boertien, the ref awards a free kick.
53:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Mulligan by Paul Boertien.
52:43 Abdul Osman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Phillips. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Boertien.
51:24 Billy Mckay takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.
49:42 Steve Guinan takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.
49:32 Centre by Gary Mulligan, Ryan Austin manages to make a clearance.
49:11 Billy Mckay takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak.
48:16 A cross is delivered by Jimmy Phillips, Andrew Holt makes a clearance.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+2:33 The ref blows to end the first period.
45:00+2:18 The ball is delivered by Gary Mulligan, save by Artur Krysiak.
45:00+0:41 Substitution Gary Mulligan comes on in place of Craig Hinton.
45:00+0:41 Substitution Abdul Osman replaces Paul Rodgers.
43:41 Dean Beckwith concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Pearson. Ryan Austin takes the indirect free kick.
42:11 The offside flag is raised against Billy Mckay. Guy Branston restarts play with the free kick.
41:53 Paul Rodgers sends in a cross, save by Artur Krysiak.
38:53 Steve Guinan takes a shot. Save by Artur Krysiak. Chris McCready concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Pearson. Free kick taken by Artur Krysiak.
35:19 Corner taken by John McGrath from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Luke Boden.
35:12 Andrew Corbett produces a cross, Dean Beckwith makes a clearance.
33:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Boertien on Ben Marshall. Chris McCready takes the free kick.
32:53 Greg Pearson is caught offside. Free kick taken by Chris Dunn.
32:15 Jimmy Phillips has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.
30:08 Foul by Steve Guinan on Tony James, free kick awarded. Michael Simpson restarts play with the free kick.
29:44 Jimmy Phillips produces a cross, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Hinton by Andrew Corbett. Chris Dunn restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 24:39 A cross is delivered by Billy Mckay, John McGrath makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Ben Marshall from the right by-line.
24:39 The ball is delivered by Billy Mckay, John McGrath manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Marshall, save made by Artur Krysiak.
24:09 Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Harrad on Andrew Holt. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Beckwith.
23:16 The ball is delivered by Andrew Holt, clearance by Paul Boertien.
22:57 Handball by Shaun Harrad. Chris Dunn restarts play with the free kick.
21:51 Jimmy Phillips sends in a cross, Craig Hinton manages to make a clearance.
21:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Guy Branston on Billy Mckay. Ryan Gilligan restarts play with the free kick.
19:36 Tony James gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Gilligan. Indirect free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
18:30 John McGrath takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Steve Guinan.
18:09 Shaun Harrad takes a shot. Blocked by Dean Beckwith.
15:48 Dean Beckwith concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Pearson. John McGrath restarts play with the free kick.
12:44 Michael Simpson concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Marshall. Free kick taken by Ryan Gilligan.
10:01 Jimmy Phillips provided the assist for the goal.
10:01 GOAL - Michael Simpson:Burton Albion 3 - 0 Northampton Michael Simpson finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Burton Albion 3-0 Northampton.
9:55 The ball is sent over by Jimmy Phillips,
9:10 Centre by John McGrath.
7:57 Inswinging corner taken by Ben Marshall from the left by-line.
6:34 GOAL - Michael Simpson:Burton Albion 2 - 0 Northampton Michael Simpson fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Burton Albion 2-0 Northampton.
5:12 Unfair challenge on Luke Boden by John McGrath results in a free kick. Chris McCready takes the indirect free kick.
1:44 GOAL - Shaun Harrad:Burton Albion 1 - 0 Northampton Shaun Harrad finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Burton Albion 1-0 Northampton.
0:43 Ben Marshall produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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