Burton manager Paul Peschisolido saw former club Sheffield United snatch a 2-1 victory in the first round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Justin Richards gave the League Two side the lead but the Blades hit back through David McAllister and substitute Erik Tonne in a late flurry of gaols.Burton were much the more dangerous team in the first half against a Blades team showing five changes from Saturday's win at Yeovil.
Goalkeeper George Long had to make a full-length save to keep out a Ryan Austin free-kick and the lively Jacques Maghoma hit the crossbar with a 15-yard shot.Maghoma and Jimmy Phillips also fired narrowly and Austin went close with a header.
The Blades had a chance to break the stalemate against the run of play but Danny Philliskirk missed the target with a close-range header.But Burton went ahead when Richards turned superbly to strike from the edge of the area in the 73rd minute.It took the Blades only four minutes to draw level as McAllister raced on to a Harry McGuire pass to score from 10 yards.
Norwegian Tonne clinched it for the visitors when his 30-yard shot slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Ross Atkins in the 80th minute.