Tyrese Shade at the double as Burton batter Northampton

A Tyrese Shade brace helped Burton go goal crazy in a 5-1 Boxing Day demolition of Northampton at the Pirelli Stadium.

Albion got off to the perfect start with Jake Beesley firing home from the penalty spot on three minutes after Nesta Guinness-Walker had clumsily upended Kyran Lofthouse.

Burton’s afternoon got even better when Jack Armer bagged a first Brewers goal on his 50th league start for the club.

The left-back saw a shot saved by Ross Fitzsimons but when Beesley’s follow-up was blocked into his path, he made no mistake at the second attempt.

Northampton were undone for a third time before the half hour when Beesley again caused problems for the Town defence and, in a scramble in the box, Jordan Thorniley’s clearance struck team-mate Max Dyche and looped in.

The Cobblers finally mounted a sustained threat on the Burton goal and were rewarded when Tom Eaves glanced home a Terry Taylor corner six minutes before the break.

But Albion restored their three-goal lead when Julian Larsson’s raking pass was controlled superbly by Shade, who coolly slotted into the bottom corner in the 44th minute.

An injury to substitute Michael Forbes forced the visitors to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men having already made their five substitutions.

Albion capitalised ruthlessly as substitute Sulyman Krubally sent Shade racing clear, the striker finishing with aplomb to round off a great afternoon for the Brewers.