Fleetwood Town 2 Burton Albion 1: Paddy Madden gives Cod Army a winning start to the League One season

On the back of consecutive cup victories, the Cod Army had started the brighter of the two sides, though they struggled to create any clear-cut early openings.

From Callum Camps’ cross on four minutes, Ched Evans sent a tame header into Ben Garratt’s arms but the keeper was otherwise untroubled for the opening quarter of an hour.

It was Camps who opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalising on the Brewers’ failure to clear Josh Morris’ corner.

Despite facing a crowd of bodies, the former Rochdale man found a way through with a sweetly-struck drive into the centre of the goal.

It took almost half an hour for Burton to register their first meaningful contribution of the game, Stephen Quinn coming inches away from an equaliser they scarcely deserved.

Joe Powell’s measured pass across the box was perfect for fellow midfielder Quinn to place into Alex Cairns’ goal but the ball rebounded back off the crossbar before being hacked to safety.

Moments later came Fleetwood’s turn to send a finish against the frame of the goal.

Morris was once again the instigator with a delightful ball into the area that James Hill rose to meet. Though his header had Garratt beaten, the upright rescued Burton.

The Brewers staged something of a rally as half-time loomed, and when Cairns was unable to get to a corner into his box, a ricochet sent the ball the way of Burton defender John Brayford who couldn’t react in time to turn it in from point-blank range.

The first opening after the restart came Burton’s way as Kane Hemmings proved too strong for Sam Stubbs, only to fire wide of the near post.

Burton had real problems coping with Morris’ set-piece deliveries, and after Hill headed another chance against the bar, the Brewers’ Kieran Wallace rescued his side with a goalline clearance from the follow-up.

That looked like proving vital when, midway through the second half, Brayford sneaked in unmarked at the back post to head in.

A flag from the assistant referee prompted a lengthy debate between the two officials, referee Martin Coy eventually signalling that the goal had been given to the delight of the Albion players and staff.

Their joy was almost shortlived, when the impressive Camps forced an excellent full-length save from Garratt with a dipping volley on the run.

Burton were finally made to pay when a deflected shot by Mark Duffy sent the ball spinning across the face of goal and Madden was quickest to react, poking in to restore the hosts’ lead.

The Brewers’ luck looked out when their own deflected effort on goal, from Lucas Akins, looped over Cairns but clipped the top of the bar.

Burton finished the game with 10 men as defender John Joe O’Toole was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Duffy in stoppage time.

Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Burns, Hill, Stubbs, Andrew, Coutts, Camps (Matete 85), Whelan, Morris (Duffy 63), Evans, Madden (Holgate 90). Subs not used: Leutwiler, Saunders, Boyes, Garner.

Burton Albion: Garratt, Brayford, Bostwick, O’Toole, Eardley (Fox 69), Wallace, Quinn, Powell (Edwards 87), Lawless (Daniel 85), Hemmings, Akins. Subs not used: Gallacher, Gilligan, Hewlett, Sharman-Lowe.

Referee: Martin Coy.