Leicester City fielded a stronger side than expected and manager Nigel Pearson made just three changes to the team that had hammered Huddersfield 6-1 five days earlier.
Andy King and Lloyd Dyer returned to the midfield as Danny Drinkwater was rested, and Anthony Knockaert moved to the substitutes' bench.
Striker Marko Futacs was also given a start, with David Nugent on the bench after his hectic festive period.
3 min: GOAL 1-0 Paul Konchesky hits a diagonal ball into Chris Wood. He produces great chest control under pressure and stabs the ball past the keeper. City get the vital early breakthrough.
5 min: John McGrath's effort from edge of the box is just over the bar. It is a reminder to City.
14 min: Futacs' volley from a Dyer cross is gathered by Dean Lyness. City are going more direct than usual to try to exploit Burton's inexperienced centre-backs. It has worked so far.
21 min: GOAL 2-0 Ritchie De Laet's second in two games. Futacs and Dyer have shots blocked and the ball runs free for De Laet to finish.
23 min: King is teed up on the edge of the box by Woods and his shot flashes just over the bar.
30 min: Great save from Kasper Schmeichel at full stretch to push away Robbie Weir's curling half volley which was heading inside the far post. Burton's brightest moment so far.
36 min: Futacs hits the bar from close range with a side-foot volley from Ben Marshall's cross. The big striker should have scored.
HT: City 2 Burton 0
47 min: Futacs misses a sitter from close range when the Brewers fail to deal with a ball into the box. He chests the ball down at the back post but fires over the bar.
51 min: Great control and turn from Wood who plays in Dyer, who shoots from an acute angle but it is wide of the far post.
55 min: Calvin Zola's overhead kick looks spectacular but is straight at Schmeichel.
56 min: Michael Keane's header is cleared off the line by McGrath at the back post. A goal would have capped a superb display by the teenager.
72 min: A patient build-up from City and King shoots but it hits the outside of the post.
82 min: Matty James' great first-time pass plays in Nugent clean through but he is tripped from behind. The ball falls for De Laet so the ref plays advantage but his shot is saved.
88 min: Martyn Waghorn's cross almost sets up Nugent but for a great saving header from Damien McCrory.
F-t: City 2 Burton 0
