LEIGH RMI 1, BURTON ALBION 4: Leigh RMI's six-month home drought continued as they were swept away by Nigel Clough's Burton Albion at Hilton Park.

The Railwaymen's fight against relegation now looks futile, and despite taking the lead inside 10 minutes, the Brewers always looked the likely victors.

Chris Lane scored the early goal which gave Leigh some hope. The former Chester City man pounced on a mistake from Burton keeper Danny Crane to stab the ball into the net.

John Shaw turned home Craig Dudley's cross to equalise in the 37th minute and not long after the restart, Barry Miller struck from close range to put the visitors ahead.

Within five minutes, substitute Chris Hall volleyed home for Albion's third, and he was involved once again in the 73rd minute, pulling the ball back to Andrew Corbett to place the ball into an empty net.

Leigh are now 13 points away from safety in the Conference table, and manager Steve Bleasdale was left cold by his team's display.

He said: "I am obviously very disappointed with our performance today. With a goal lead we should have been consolidating our position instead we switched off.

"We lacked conviction, discipline and effort and this is totally unacceptable. The second half was dire and we made far too many basic mistakes.

"There is only five weeks left in the season, and it is becoming increasingly difficult bringing in players.

"It is very frustrating, we are training very well but this is not being reflected on the pitch. My aim is still to build a team that will compete will next season and I am confident that this will be realised."