Derby 0-0 Burton: Nigel Clough's side hold Rams on his return

Nigel Clough marked his return to the club that sacked him in September 2013 by delivering another blow to Derby's play-off hopes as Burton boosted their survival chances with a 0-0 draw at Pride Park.

Clough's team spent most of a disappointing Sky Bet Championship game in their own half but Derby lacked the craft and confidence to break them down and created few chances.

Darren Bent, who had scored four goals in the previous two games, missed the best chance in the first half and Derby created little in the second as Steve McClaren's team failed to win for the third consecutive home game.

Burton went into their first-ever game at Derby without injured midfielder Michael Kightly, who had scored in the previous three matches, while the home side replaced both full-backs.

Clough was relaxed in his technical area but his side had a scare in the 11th minute when Julien de Sart's crossfield pass put Tom Ince in on the right, but he pulled his shot wide.

There was certainly an edginess about Derby's play, with passes going astray, although Burton were also giving the ball away cheaply in a game that cried out for some quality.

Instead, it was a moment of good fortune that should have broken Burton's resistance in the 42nd minute when a low Ince shot bounced off a yellow shirt to Bent - but the striker shot over from two yards.

Burton responded with their first attempt on goal a minute later but Luke Varney, who scored the winner for Ipswich at Pride Park earlier in the season, headed straight at Scott Carson.

But that late flurry of goalmouth action could not disguise the fact it had been a poor first half and Derby started the second with an urgency that saw Jacob Butterfield force Jon McLaughlin to tip over a drive 20 seconds after the restart.

The worry for Burton was their inability to keep possession and relieve pressure on the defence and although Lloyd Dyer flashed a shot across the Derby goal in the 67th minute, it was a rare threat from the visitors.

But Derby were struggling to turn dominance into chances and when Ince did get in on the right in the 79th minute, he was quickly closed down by a combination of McLaughlin and two defenders.

Ince's frustration spilled over when he was booked for a late challenge and although there was a late scare when David Nugent shot wide in stoppage time, Burton deservedly gave Clough reason to smile at the final whistle.

Derby, who travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, remain 11th in the table, with Burton 20th - five points above the drop zone. The Brewers are in action again on Friday night when they host Blackburn.

Derby boss Steve McClaren:

"We are very disappointed with two points from three games when our home form has been excellent. We talked about a target but we've not achieved that. It was a yellow brick wall of four and six but I can't fault the players, we kept plugging away but it wasn't our night.

"Burton came for a draw and got it and it's been a frustrating night all round. Sometimes you can play for two days and not score and I think that was the situation tonight.

"When we came here we were fourth bottom and just dreaming of getting away and the players have done a marvellous job to go on a run, but I knew after the first three or four games this would be a frustrating season."

Burton assistant boss Andy Garner:

"I think proud is a bit of an understatement, I think it's incredible, we worked incredibly hard, we're honest enough to say we came for a point and for us to get that at Derby is absolutely unbelievable.

"That's what we are all about, honesty and hard work, we're not particularly good at times and the players will tell you that as well but we dig deep and everybody works for each other."