Burton Albion come away from the Keepmoat Stadium with three points, despite an improved first half performance from Rovers.
Four changes were made to the side from the weekend with James Coppinger coming back into the team to make his 600th start at the club. Returning to the starting XI alongside side him was John Bostock, AJ Greaves and Fejiri Okenabirhie.
Those were not the only changes Butler had made to his team, as he ditched the 4-2-3-1 system with the side lining up as a 4-4-2.
The change in tact worked a treat in the first half with Rovers having seen most of the possession for the opening period, and off the ball they worked hard to win possession back.
Burton had their first shot from a direct free kick taken by Joe Powell, which was stopped by an alert Ellery Balcombe on the 14th minute.
The first big opportunity for Rovers came through Matt Smith as the Welsh international benefited from a deflection off Ryan Edwards and hit the ball on the volley, only for it to bobble out for a corner. That resulting corner was worked well between Coppinger and Josh Sims, with the move finishing with a curled effort off target from the Southampton loanee.
On the 25th minute Okenabirhie forced a great save out of Ben Garratt after he beat the off-side trap before he unleashed an effort from a tight angle.
Rovers were having an unlucky time in front of goal as moments later Tom Anderson’s close-range tap-in was denied by Garratt again after a great ball was played in by Sims.
Butler’s side did have the ball in the back of the net through Okenabirhie, but the referee ruled it for a supposed handball from Branden Horton in the build-up.
The first half finished goalless with Rovers boasting the better chances and showing much improvement from the 4-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic a few days ago.
Burton made a change during the break in an attempt to combat Rovers’ presence in the game with Sean Clare replaced by Terry Taylor.
On the hour mark Rovers had two chances with Sims being denied from distance before Coppinger whipped a sweet ball into the box which was headed goal wards by Omar Bogle but tipped over by Garratt.
Within a 20-minute window, Burton stormed into a 3-0 lead which started with Lucas Askins powerfully blasting the ball past Balcombe. They got their second through Tom Hamer who aimed accurately into the bottom left corner. The third put the game to bed with just over 10 minutes to go when Blackburn Rovers loanee Hayden Carter scored from close range.
The result was a bitter blow for Rovers who put on an improved display from the weekend.