Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest Under-21 played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their English Football League Trophy group-stage fixture at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday 23 September 2026, with the hosts ultimately taking the bonus point from the resulting penalty shootout.

Match overview

This was one of the more watchable games of the EFL Trophy's opening group matchday, a proper contrast in styles between a senior EFL side with physical presence and a technically gifted academy outfit that wanted to play through the thirds at every opportunity. Burton's experience told in the air and in the tackle; Forest's young players were superior in tight spaces and produced the game's most eye-catching passages of play.

The hosts will feel they edged the contest on chances created, but the visitors deserved their goal for the quality of the move that produced it. Over ninety minutes, a draw was a reasonable reflection of a genuinely even contest.

How the game unfolded

Burton started brightly and had the first meaningful attempt inside five minutes, a low drive from the edge of the area that the Forest goalkeeper pushed around the post. The hosts' pressure told on 22 minutes when Josh Cole reacted quickest to a rebound in the box and stabbed the ball home from six yards to make it 1-0.

Forest responded with their best spell of the match either side of the half-hour mark, moving the ball quickly through midfield and forcing Burton's back line into a series of rushed clearances. The equaliser arrived on 44 minutes, and it was beautifully constructed: a patient sequence of short passes drew Burton's midfield forward, before a reverse ball released the overlapping full-back, whose low cross was converted at the far post by Tyler Dacres.

The second half was more cautious. Both sides made multiple changes, and the game became more fragmented, though Burton twice went close from set pieces and Forest struck the post with a curling effort on 74 minutes.

Tactical story

• Burton: direct, physically imposing, focused on second balls and crosses into the box. Effective in the first 30 minutes, less so once Forest adjusted.
• Forest U21: possession-orientated, patient, brave in building from the back. Vulnerable to the high press but excellent at playing through it when their midfield dropped deeper to receive.

The key adjustment came from Forest at half time, when they pushed one of their central midfielders higher to prevent Burton's deepest player from dictating. That change cut off the host's easiest route forward and made the second half a far more attritional affair.

Standout performers

Cole was sharp throughout for Burton, holding the ball up well and providing a genuine focal point. Their left-sided defender also had an excellent game, winning a string of headers against smaller opponents and starting several attacks with accurate long passes.

Dacres was Forest's brightest spark, drifting into pockets of space between Burton's midfield and defence and linking play intelligently. The academy side's goalkeeper also impressed with a handful of assured claims under pressure.

Penalty shootout and group table impact

Because EFL Trophy group matches cannot end level, the fixture went to a penalty shootout for the bonus point. Burton converted four of their five spot-kicks and won the shootout 4-3, meaning the hosts leave the night with two points from their opening game while Forest's academy side take one.

In a group where every point matters, that extra point could be significant for Burton's hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds. Forest's under-21 side, who cannot progress beyond the group stage but can heavily influence who does, showed enough quality to suggest they will take points off somebody in this group before the campaign is finished.

What comes next

Burton will look to build on this result when they travel for their second group fixture, while Forest's young side return to league action in Premier League 2 before their next EFL Trophy assignment. The reverse fixture at the City Ground's academy venue later in the autumn could be a fascinating rematch between two very different football philosophies.