NEWPORT County powered back into the League Two playoff positions with a stunning win at league leaders Burton Albion.

A sublime second half volley from striker Miles Storey gave the Exiles a deserved lead as they inflicted back-to-back defeats on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men.

County bounced back from last weekend in real style with a genuine team effort, every Exile doing himself proud in a superb rearguard display.

The Exiles had a horror show against Morecambe in terms of their goalscoring threat and it was no surprise to see manager Jimmy Dack act decisively, changing both forwards as Rene Howe and Shaun Jeffers dropped out of the starting XI.

Miles Storey was finally given a chance to shine in his natural position as a central striker alongside the recalled Chris Zebroski, but there was no place in the match day squad for either Robbie Willmott or Mike Flynn.

Jimmy Flloyd Hasselbaink was more measured with his Brewers side, making not a single alteration to the side beaten 1-0 at Accrington in midweek, Burton’s first defeat in almost three months.

However, pleasingly for Exiles fans, they began this contest more in the manner of their stunning away win at Wycombe than last time out against Morecambe, County holding a good early shape that frustrated the hosts, who were limited in their attacking forays, home boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink forced to bellow instructions until Lucas Atkins extended Joe Day with a long range effort.

It was comfortably dealt with and the Exiles began to impose themselves defensively, finding a good line and treading that line well between keeping their shape and not falling too deep.

The Exiles were restricting the Brewers to possession in their own half and only a very tame effort by Adam McGurk threatened Day again as the first third of the contest whizzed by satisfactorily for Dack’s men.

However, while County looked solid they didn’t look threatening and it was the hosts who should have taken the lead on 32 minutes, Adam McGurk beating Darren Jones to the ball and expertly curling past Joe Day, only for the base of the far post to prove his tormentor, the ball bouncing to safety with County more than a little grateful for their good fortune.

However, before the interval it was the Exiles with the chance to lead, Yan Klukowski’s teasing ball finding Mark Byrne unmarked in the area, but his firm volley from 10-yards was brilliantly repelled by home goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, a virtual spectator until that point but aware enough to make a smart and dramatic stop with his legs.

That should’ve given County encouragement and they started the second period on the front foot as well, delightful interplay allowing Zebroski a headed effort that should’ve caused more damage.

There were suddenly warning signs all over for the Brewers and County finally took advantage, a splendid move helping them to one of their best goals of the entire campaign.

Both Adam Chapman and Byrne were involved, with Miles Storey starting and finishing the move with a splendid effort, firing a right footed volley across McLaughlin and perfectly into the corner of the net.

It was a stunning moment for both sides, the Brewers simply don’t do home defeats and they responded strongly and almost instantly, McGurk curling a freekick just the wrong side of the post with Day struggling to make up the ground.

One sensed that was just the beginning of the hosts laying siege to Day’s goal, but Newport’s defensive work was splendid all afternoon and the anticipated late Alamo of home chances never actually arrived.

Dack used his substitutions smartly to frustrate the hosts and the Exiles held on comfortably for another eye-catching away win.

Burton: (4-4-2): McLaughlin, Edwards (Calero 65), McCrory, Cansdell-Sherriff, Mousinho, Atkins, El Khayati (Maynard 53), Weir, Lenihan, McGurk, Beavon (Antione-Curier 57)

Subs not used: Shearer, Taft, Calero, Naylor, Slade

Booked: None

Newport: (4-4-2): Day, Jackson, Tutonda, Yakubu, Jones, Byrne, Klukowski, Chapman (Minshull 83), Porter, Zebroski (Sandell 77), Storey (Howe 86)

Booked: Jones

Subs not used: Stephens, Poole, Sandell, Parker, Jeffers, Howe, Minshull