Goals from Ryan Delaney and Ethan Hamilton earned Bolton Wanderers a share of the spoils at the Pirelli Stadium after a Jamie Murphy brace ensured the highly entertaining game ended all-square.
Wanderers took the lead twice only to see Murphy respond on each occasion.
Both sides had to settle for the point despite creating chances to win the game.
Keith Hill made two changes from the side that drew with AFC Wimbledon at the weekend with Kean Bryan and Josh Emmanuel returning to the starting line-up at the expense of Jason Lowe and Daryl Murphy, who both missed out through injury. Remi Matthews shook off an injury concern to retain his place in between the posts. Luke Murphy took the captain’s armband.
The hosts started brightly and within two minutes the ball broke to Stephen Quinn on the edge of the box, but Ryan Delaney got in the way to block the ball before it could cause any trouble.
Brandon Fleming advanced with the ball down the left channel and his dangerous looking centre was cleared by Jake Buxton before it could fall into the path of Joe Dodoo.
The Brewers spurned a good opportunity to open the scoring when Joe Powell’s corner was met by the head of John Brayford, but his header went well wide of goal to give Wanderers a reprieve.
Wanderers took the lead in emphatic style when Delaney rose the highest to plant home Ali Crawford’s corner with a powerful header.
The goal gave Wanderers the confidence to pile on the pressure and Dennis Politic’s low cross from the right, which was intended for Ethan Hamilton, was cleared by the Burton defence.
But the hosts were back on terms thanks to a close-range header from Jamie Murphy.
Hamilton then restored Wanderers lead after he latched onto a threaded pass by fellow Scot Crawford before showing great composure to slot past Ben Garratt.
Toto Nsiala, who had earlier been booked for a heavy challenge on Joe Powell, got something on the ball to prevent Brayford’s great right sided cross from reaching Murphy who was poised to get his second of the night.
A minute into time added on at the end of the first half, Delaney made a timely intervention to clear Sarkic’s cross into the box.
Wanderers went into the break with their lead intact.
The visitors resumed the game on the front foot and earned a corner almost immediately when Hamilton broke down the left and saw his deflected cross go out for a corner. From the resulting play, Nsiala threatened only to see his chance cleared for another corner. Luke Murphy then followed up with a shot towards goal which deflected over the bar for another corner.
At the other end, Nsiala did well to get in the way of Murphy’s effort. The ball then fell to Stephen Quinn whose volley was expertly blocked by Delaney.
Luke Murphy then put in a tough challenge to win possession before putting in Hamilton whose thunderous 30 yarder go narrowly wide of the post with Garratt at full stretch.
Wanderers had a glorious chance to increase their advantage when Crawford latched on to a loose ball in the right channel before delivering an exquisite first time cross which is turned wide by Dodoo.
Murphy got his and Burton’s second of the evening just after the hour mark when he converted Hutchinson’s left sided cross beyond Matthews.
Hill made his first change of the evening shortly afterwards when Georgiou came on for Politic.
Hamilton earned another corner for Wanderers when he pounced on to a through ball before seeing his low effort deflect behind.
From the resulting set play Kean Bryan turned it back into the box to see Nsiala almost bundle it in over the line.
Crawford then saw his effort cleared off the line after Dodoo initial effort was kept out by Garratt.
From the ensuing corner, the Burton defence had to be on their guard to clear away another Wanderers chance.
The game was a real end to end affair, and Nisiala once again showed his sublime defensive skills by blocking a shot from Brayford.
Hamilton went close once again after being played in superbly by Crawford after some great work on the flank by Emmanuel.
Wanderers made their second change of the evening when Darcy came on for the outstanding Crawford.
Another great challenge from Delaney prevented Ryan Edwards from getting on the end of a Hutchinson centre as the Brewers looked to get their noses in front.
Fleming showed some great attacking play to earn his side a corner with little over five minutes remaining.
From the corner, Georgiou headed the ball across the face of goal where it narrowly evaded the run of Bryan.
With a minute to go, Lucas Aikins used his strength to hold up the ball before turning and getting a shot which was blocked bravely by Nsiala.
Scott Fraser was denied a goal on the stroke of 90 minutes when Bryan got in the way to deflect for a corner.
Jacob Mellis came on for Hamilton deep into time added on, but the game ended all square to register a third successive draw for Hill’s men.