A scruffy decider from Ross McCormack silenced the boos and kept the Villa bandwagon rolling along – just.
McCormack's third goal of the season won't win any beauty competitions but boss Steve Bruce knows points are more important than pretty displays after an in-out performance, which was nearly spoiled in injury-time but for a brilliant save by Mark Bunn to deny Tom Naylor.
Struggling Burton deserve plenty of credit after Jamie Ward cancelled out Leandro Bacuna's opener but praise does not make up for an ultimately fruitless trip.
As a youngster Ward dreamed of lighting up Villa Park while wearing the claret and blue of his hometown club.