Burton boss Gary Bowyer felt his side’s 6-0 FA Cup first-round win over Isthmian Premier League St Albans City was harsh.
Tyrese Shade, Charlie Webster and Fabio Tavares all scored twice to secure the League One side safe passage to the second round.
But despite Shade netting the opener after just 58 seconds, Albion were only 1-0 up at the break.
And the pivotal moment came 30 seconds into the second half when City’s Harrison Smith headed against a post and moments later Webster put Burton 2-0 up, which opened the floodgates.
“I thought 6-0 was harsh on St Albans if I am honest,” Bowyer said.
“(The) first-half performance we were not happy with. We talked about starting fast and we did. We are a young group and maybe a few thought that was the game won but as staff we knew otherwise and after that we made hard work of it.
“Football can be a cruel game sometimes St Albans go and hit the post straight from kick off in the second half and we go down the other end and its 2-0. It was harsh, but from our point of view emphatic.”
St Albans came into the tie days after manager Ian Culverhouse left for King’s Lynn and City’s interim manager Michael Bostwick admitted the preparation was far from ideal.
“It’s been a tough, disappointing week but everyone has pulled together and that togetherness can get you through lots of things,” he said.
“The fans were amazing today. We couldn’t ask for any more and we just want to thank them and try to move on.
“Ultimately the game changes on the moment where we hit the post and then they have a long throw, and we are 2-0 down and that sort of knocked the stuffing out of us.”
