Morecambe 3-0 Burton Albion
Sky Bet League One
The Mazuma Stadium
Saturday 2 April 2022
Kick-Off: 3:00pm
Attendance: 5,238 (228 away)
The Shrimps produced a superb performance to beat Burton Albion 3-0 at the Mazuma Stadium.
Three goals in 10 minutes either side of the half-time break gave Derek Adams a first win since taking charge of the Club for the second time, while a red card for Burton's Conor Shaughnessy also gave the Shrimps an advantage.
Adams made a number of changes to the side that lost at Wigan a fortnight ago and the changes seemed to pay off with a fine performance.
The home side started on the front foot with Rhys Bennett almost giving the Shrimps the lead with a far-post header from an Adam Phillips free kick on seven minutes.
Bennett went close again shortly after and was denied by a superb Ben Garratt save on 19 minutes, before the Shrimps had a good shout for a penalty when Phillips tried to take the ball around the Burton keeper and went down but referee Ross Joyce waved away the appeals.
The Shrimps' pressure continued and Liam Gibson got up well at the back post only to see his header save by Garratt and the base of the post.
Burton's first effort of any note came on 38 minutes when a long throw was only cleared a far as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson just outside the box and the winger flashed a left foot volley narrowly over the crossbar.
That turned out to be a rare effort from the visitors as the Shrimps took the lead on 41 minutes when Arthur Gnahoua's shot took a deflection off Sam Hughes and looped over Garratt and into the net.
Two minutes later the visitors were reduced to 10-men when Shaughnessy caught Dylan Connolly and referee Ross Joyce gave a straight red card.
The Shrimps soon made him pay as they added a second in injury time. Cole Stockton played in Phillips and the midfielder produced a fine effort to beat Garratt low to his right.
Half-time: Morecambe 2-0 Burton Albion
Morecambe made it 3-0 one minute into the second-half when a shot from Gnahoua was only parried by Garratt and the ball rebounded for Stockton to stroke home his 20th League goal of the campaign.
Garratt denied the Shrimps a fourth on 53 minutes as Phillips met a Wildig cross that was superby tipped away by the former Crewe stopper.
With Burton having to push forwards they were almost caught out as Connolly raced from his own half before blasting over from the edge of the box.
The Shrimps' defence was only troubled in the final stages with Stockton clearing a Tom Hamer header off the line and Jonny Smith shooting straight at Trevor Carson but the home side held on for a much needed three points.
Full-time: Morecambe 3-0 Burton Albion.
Morecambe: Carson, McLaughlin (Cooney 77'), Bedeau, Bennett, Gibson, Fane (Diagouraga 45'). Wildig, Phillips (Ayunga 80'), Connolly, Gnahoua, Stockton.
Subs not used: Smith, Obika, Mensah, McLoughlin.
Goals: Gnahoua 41', Phillips 45+5', Stockton 46'.
Bookings: Connolly 28'.
Red Cards: None.
Burton Albion: Garratt; Brayford, Hughes, Oshilaja, Hamer; Smith, Shaughnessy, Gilligan (Taylor 68'), Borthwick-Jackson; Saydee (Chapman 57'). Moult (Ahadme 68').
Subs not used: Kovar, Powell, Lakin, Mancienne.
Goals: None.
Bookings: Oshilaja 71'.
Red Cards: Shaughnessy 43'.