Burton 1 Shrewsbury 2 - Report and pictures

Whalley struck in the third minute of time added on to clinch a much-needed victory for Micky Mellon's side to lift them out of the relegation zone.

Left-back Damien McGrory put the Brewers ahead in the 18th minute in a game of few chances and things didn't really liven up until Andy Mangan nodded home seven minutes after the break.

Mark Duffy had an effort saved by goalkeeper Jayson Leutweiler on 56 and sub Mason Bennett headed over on 74.

But, despite five successive corners in the closing stages, Town had little trouble containing the hosts, who suffered their first defeat under Nigel Clough and first at the Pirelli Stadium since September.

Mellon made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 at home to Barnsley last week.

Leutwiler was recalled in goal, after missing eight games with facial injuries in the FA Cup tie at Grimsby on December 7.

There were full debuts for new signings Richie Wellens, James Wallace and Kyle Vassell after coming on as half-time substitutes last week.

Mark Halstead, the departed Anthony Gerrard, Jordan Clark and Scott Vernon made way.

Burton (4-1-4-1): McLaughlin; Edwards, Mousinho, O'Connor, McGrory; Naylor; Duffy, Reilly (Bennett, 62), Butcher, El Khayati (Akins 81); Beavon.

Subs not used: Cansdell-Sherriff, Joachim, Harness, Austin, Bywater (gk).

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2 diamond): Leutwiler; Grimmer, Whitbread, Knight-Percival, Brown; Wellens, Wallace, Black (Whalley 84) Cole; Vassell (Akpa Akpro 84), Mangan.

Subs not used: Sadler, Vernon, Clark, Smith, Halstead (gk).

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancs).

Mellon reverted to a back four and a diamond formation following the recent experiment with 3-5-2. Former Town defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff was on the bench for Burton.

The Brewers forced the first serious chance in the sixth minute when Tom Naylor's rising drive was tipped over by Leutwiler, after Nasser El Khayati crossed and Ian Black slipped.

Town, boosted by the probings of Wellens, recovered to play some decent passing football.

Larnell Cole turned onto Black's square pass and fired a few feet wide from the edge of the box after a quarter of an hour.

But the visitors were guilty of some poor closing down as they fell behind.

McGrory had time to wind up to lash home a low, first-time drive into the far bottom corner from Callum Butcher's lay-off from 25 yards.

Shrewsbury created a decent opening in the 25th minute when Wellens, Mangan and Wallace combined to find Vassell.

But instead of finding Mangan, who had made a fine run ahead of him, he ran into a defender.

There was a half chance for Burton in the 37th minute but Stuart Beavon could only head down Mark Duffy's deep free kick at the far post for an easy pick up for Leutwiler.

Burton forced the first opening of the second-half on 49, when Callum Reilly combined with Beavon for Duffy to turn and shoot but it was held at the second attempt by Leutwiler.

But then Town hit back to equalise when Mangan nodded home from almost on the line after keeper Jon McLaughlin dropped Nat Knight-Percival's header under pressure from Black's corner.

On 63, McGrory attempted to win a penalty trying to 'roll' Zak Whitbread but only succeeded in falling over as the referee waved play on.

Soon after play was stopped to allow treatment to Wellens who was left floored following an aerial collision and he needed treatment on and off the pitch before continuing.

Burton briefly threatened when Duffy tried to bend it around Leutwiler, but Whitbread got a vital head to it.

The Brewers went much closer on 74 when Bennett rose above Junior Brown at the far post but headed over El Khayati's cross from point-blank range.

But despite Burton forcing five successive corners towards the end, they failed to threaten Leutwiler's goal.

Town sent on Whalley and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro for Ian Black and Vassell in the 84th minute. And it was that combination that forced the winner in stoppage time.

Mangan chipped forward for Akpa Akpro down the right, and the pacy Whalley sprinted some 50 yards to steer home the winner to send the 500 away fans at that end into ecstacy.