Dion Charles struck again as Wanderers came from behind to get their League One campaign moving again.
Charles followed up his double strike in the Whites’ first away game of the season with an important equaliser at the Pirelli Stadium as Ian Evatt’s men fought back to secure a point.
After falling behind just after the break, Wanderers showed impressive character to respond a week on from their first defeat of the season to Wigan.
Charles’ third goal of the season – converted in typically predatory style – was the highlight of a dominant second-half performance.
And even though the Whites then missed chances to win it, a positive result steadied the ship ahead of a return home for a league and cup double-header against Middlesbrough and Derby County with confidence restored.
Wanderers made three changes to their starting line-up following the derby-day defeat as Dion Charles returned from suspension and George Thomason and Paris Maghoma came into midfield.
There was no immediate cure as Wanderers made an uncertain start and survived a scare eight minutes in when Jack Iredale gave the ball away to dangerman Bobby Kamwa before recovering to make amends with a goalline clearance.
Much of the Whites’ concern was self-inflicted and when Nathan Baxter’s attempted pass presented Rekeem Harper with another chance, the Brewers’ midfielder dragged his effort wide.
Evatt’s men had struggled to impose themselves on the contest but when they did string some passes together had some joy.
Paris Maghoma worked his way into the box and saw a driven cross cleared for a corner.
And when Wanderers attacked down the other flank, Kyle Dempsey released Randell Williams, whose deflected shot was well saved by Max Crocombe at his near post.
Williams was proving a dangerous outlet for the visitors – even if he couldn’t make the most of one outstanding pass from Thomason – and as Wanderers finished the first half in the ascendency Charles just unable able to touch a Williams’ through-ball past the advancing Crocombe.
Wanderers were dealt a blow at the start of the second half with skipper Ricardo Almeida Santos unable to continue after being caught early in the piece by Burton forward Mason Bennett as he made way for Will Forrester.
And the Whites’ back line was breached within a minute of the re-start as Wanderers failed to deal with a low cross from Kamwa and Mark Helm swept the ball in at the far post.
Wanderers needed to respond and did so with two chances to equalise in front of the travelling fans.
Former Burton striker Victor Adeboyejo was unlucky to see his overhead kick deflected wide from a Josh Dacres-Cogley cross and from the corner that followed, Maghoma lifted an effort over the top after being well found by Iredale.
Wanderers needed a chance to fall to Charles and when it did with almost an hour gone they levelled.
Dempsey poked the ball in behind Burton’s defence and Charles did the rest, cutting back onto his right foot to take the ball away from Crocombe before calmly slotting home from just inside the box.
Suddenly it was all Wanderers as they penned Burton in their own half but the Brewers – seeking their first win of the season – weren’t out of it.
And with 25 minutes to go they thought they had gone back in front as John Brayford and Josh Gordon were thwarted in front of goal, first by Baxter's superb save with his legs and then by Forrester's fine block.
Both sides were going for a winner and next it was Wanderers who thought they’d got it when Dacres-Cogley delivered again for Adeboyejo to meet six-yards out with a side-footed effort brilliantly saved by Crocombe as he flew across goal.
Dacres-Cogley then almost picked out Charles after a superb Iredale pass had again by-passed the Burton defence before Charles made way for Dan Nlundulu in the Whites’ final change.
Wanderers piled on the pressure as they looked for maximum points but despite a flurry of corners and balls into the Burton box they couldn’t force a winner which would have taken them back to the top of the table.
Wanderers: Baxter; Jones, Almeida Santos (Forrester HT), Iredale; Thomason; Dacres-Cogley, Maghoma (Sheehan 73), Dempsey (Mendes Homes 73); Charles (Nlundulu 82), Adeboyejo (Jerome 73). Substitutes: Bodvarsson, Morley.
Booked: Maghoma, Thomason
Burton Albion: Crocombe; Brayford, Hughes, Moon, Caprice (Seddon 90); Harper (Carayol 78), Powell; Kamwa (Baah 90), Oshilaja, Helm, Bennett (Gordon 45); Helm, Substitutes: Kean, Sweeney, Chauke.
Booked: Harper, Oshilaja, Crocombe, Caprice, Moon, Carayol
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 3,771