Burton 3 Gravesend 2

MANAGER Andy Ford's warning after last Tuesday's reverse at Aldershot that Gravesend must improve their marking at set-pieces fell on deaf ears as they slipped to a second defeat in five days at Eton Park.

"It's another defeat, which is two in a row, which is very disappointing," said boss Ford. "Before today's game we had conceded six goals from six set-pieces consecutively.

"Against Burton we let in another two, one from a corner, one from a free-kick. We've got to do a better job defending set-pieces and we've got to stop giving away unnecessary free-kicks."

He added: "Although we had a few people out today, that's not an excuse because it's part and parcel of football. We had to change things around a bit and went with a little more emphasis on attack, though we were a bit gung-ho.

"We certainly missed Steve McKimm and Jay Saunders in midfield.

"But there was enough quality out there today to come here and get something."

Not since Gravesend's last visit in December have Burton supporters seen their side score three goals at home.

The omens were not good for the Fleet when Craig Dudley gave Burton a fifth-minute lead when he lobbed the ball home after goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson had strayed too far off his line.

The Brewers increased their advantage in the 37th minute when Rob Talbot scored his fourth goal of the season after hooking the ball home from close range.

Andy Drury gave the Fleet hope when he headed home Justin Skinner's free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

The goal should have given the visitors added impetus in the second-half but it was Burton who added a third in the 63rd minute when the outstanding Andy Ducros bent a 25-yard free-kick home.

Defender Lee Protheroe showed his strikers the way to goal when he rallied the Fleet with a strike in the 78th minute. His 20-yard effort deflected off a defender to wrong-foot Dan Crane.

But Fleet hopes that they could salvage something came to nothing.

Gravesend: Wilkerson, Protheroe, Porter, Moore, Skinner, Sidibe, Surey, Drury, Jackson, Essandoh, Omoyinmi. Substitutions: Davies for Jackson (65 mins), Pinnock for Surey (86 mins). Not used: Mitten, Shearer, Gledhill. Attendance: 943.