Northampton started life after Kevin Nolan with another defeat as their plunge towards League Two continued with a 2-0 loss at home to Burton.

Colin Calderwood took caretaker charge for the first time but his team are now six points from safety after they were defeated by goals from Jake Beesley and Kyran Lofthouse.

The first chance at Sixfields fell to the home side when Cameron McGeehan's close-range effort was blocked by Brewers goalkeeper Brad Collins, before Beesley's header at the other end was cleared off the line.

Burton were in the ascendency for most of the first half and they struck on the counter-attack with 32 minutes played when Beesley netted at the second attempt after Lee Burge kept out his first effort.

McGeehan hit a post just before half-time but Northampton huffed and puffed without creating anything clear-cut throughout a disappointing second half.

Their fate was sealed by Lofthouse's volley a minute from time as Burton maintained a five-point buffer over the relegation zone.