The Shots did just that at the new Pirelli Stadium on Sunday afternoon — clinching a classic game of two halves with two goals in as many minutes after the break following a mediocre first half display.
Make no mistake, this win at second bottom Burton was massive. It was not just about being able to show character in coming back from a goal down, nor was it about gaining their first away win of the season.
Had the Shots lost, they would have been sitting at the foot of the table, four points adrift of their nearest rival.
But despite his obvious relief at claiming maximum points, boss Terry Brown knows that work is still needed if the Shots are to recover from their sorry start to the season.
"We're definitely, definitely not kidding ourselves,” he cried. “That performance is not good enough and we need to be considerably better if we're going to climb up the table.
"I'm just relieved, I'm proud of the way the boys came out in the second half and took the challenge on but it doesn't stop me being disappointed with the lacklustre first half. I thought Burton totally dominated the first half and deserved to go in more than one goal up,” said Brown.
But their second half comeback ensured they hauled themselves out of the relegation zone — and the result comes exactly a year after the Shots fought back from goal down at Tamworth to win 2-1 with second half efforts.
The boss added: “We have played better on numerous occasions and come away with nothing so I'm more than happy to come away with three points.
“Defensively we were poor, they scored one and could have had three or four on another day. I also felt that we were lucky with (Steve) Reed, who could have got sent off for a silly two-footed tackle.”
With 30 games left of the season and a realistic target of 70 points needed to make the Play-Offs, Brown, and the Rec faithful are all too aware that with 11 points so far, that means an average of about two points a game if the dream is to be realised.
That is no mean feat for any side, let alone one that has spent most of the season in the drop zone.
“We had the rub of the green today and we've got to get considerably better if we're going to climb the league,” Brown continued.
“I think you can say it's a good test of character if you defend resolutely and restrict their chances, we didn't do that.
“They got chances, and on another day they'd have gone in, so I'm certainly not taking any credit or gloating.”
The boss was yet again forced to change things with Scott Guyett calling in sick and Matt Somner still suspended.
Transfer-listed Tobi Jinadu was drafted in at centre back, whilst Brown opted to play both left-backs with Darren Barnard making his first start of the season in an advanced midfield position.
The Brewers attacked from the outset, perhaps looking to take advantage of yet another untested back line. Dale Anderson made the most of Greg Heald's slip up, to nip past the defender and cross into the box, but fortunately Andy Todd's effort was well over the bar.
Meanwhile, Steve Reed was also in need of some target practice, firing wide after Tim Sills' effort was blocked.
The Shots came close to taking the lead after just 10 minutes when Sills' downward header from Chris McPhee's centre was saved.
Andy Todd shot over for the Brewers when in a good position, before the home side thought they had won a penalty when Anderson tumbled all too easily under pressure from Jinadu.
Anderson picked himself up though and minutes later shot just wide, before Andre Boucard was also off target for the Shots.
Todd, allowed to run the left wing time and again, shot over the bar but it was only a matter of time before he would finally put one of his efforts on target and he did so on the half hour mark.
He beat Lewis Hamilton and Jinadu in a foray into the box before firing past the on-rushing Nikki Bull — not a welcome birthday present for the keeper.
Burton then almost doubled their lead — Bull prompting a goalmouth scramble after palming off the line from Anderson and resolutely holding onto the ball amidst plenty of bodies.
The Shots though looked limited in ideas, failing to use the wide areas effectively, continually looking frail at the back and also lacking firepower at the front.
Steve Watson shot straight at grateful keeper Dan Crane but that was one of very few on-target efforts for the visitors.
Indeed, Burton could, and really should have extended their lead five minutes before the break. Jon Shaw found himself perfectly placed to turn and shoot with only Bull to beat from close range, but instead he inexplicably laid off to Chris Hall whose effort was blocked by Reed.
With half-time looming, the Shots almost got it back on level terms, as McPhee's effort was hacked off the line by Andy Corbett after Sills' effort was blocked.
Serious changes were needed at the break and Brown duly obliged, replacing Barnard on the left with Ahmed Deen and McPhee with makeshift striker Gary Holloway.
The pair changed the game with the Shots using the width more effectively, and Holloway, as ever, a creative force wherever he is put on the park.
Within minutes of the change, the Shots won their first corner, Deen delivered but Jinadu headed over. The winger then shot over in his own effort minutes later.
But just ten minutes into the second half, Brown's plans almost went out of the window when Reed was lucky not to be sent off for a rash two-footed tackle on Hall.
With his yellow card came relief and a longing look from his panicking boss.
The Brewers then caused more panic when winning a free kick 12 yards from the area — Ryan Austin curved the ball round the wall prompting a fine save from Bull low down to his left.
Then however, came the equaliser, Aaron Webster tried to head back to his keeper, who remained rooted on his line, Holloway stole in to hook the ball back in from the by-line to be met by a driving header from Sills past Crane — his fifth goal from seven games.
But before the travelling fans had even finished celebrating, the Shots then took the lead.
Reed delivered a long ball into the area, Crane waited to collect but Nick Crittenden was on hand to fire home with another strong header.
By now the roles were totally reversed as an unimaginative Burton side showed no sense of urgency or desire.
Despite this, the Brewers weren't without chances, a free kick from player/boss Nigel Clough was delivered, the ball fell to the feet of substitute Danny Bacon, he only had to turn and shoot but was completely unaware allowing the defence to clear.
Webster then blasted over before a glancing header from Stride in the final seconds was gathered safely by Bull.
While it's the points that count, the performance was still nowhere near the standard of old, and Brown knows there remains plenty of work to do.
"They could have scored three in the last five minutes of the game. It hasn't fooled anybody, the weaknesses are there to be seen, and we've got to strengthen and work hard."
Indeed, Brown is hoping to bring in more new faces, in particular a striker, although the Rec faithful have been told that enough times so far this season without fruition to get too excited.
Brown added: "There's a lot to do on the training ground and I want a new face or two in as well because we need to lift the boys' spirit a bit.
We've not got a lot of options going forward and we need to get one or two more on board, the chances of that are pretty good."
SHOTS: BULL 8, Hamilton 5 (sub Mustafa 79mins), Heald 6, Jinadu 4, Reed 7, Crittenden 7, Watson 6, Boucard 6, Barnard 6 (Deen 45, 7), Sills 7, McPhee 4 (Holloway 45, 8). Not used: Weait, Sulaiman. Att:1493. Ref: Richard Hewitt, 7.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.