Burton Albion take a 1-0 lead in to the second League Two Play-Off Final on Saturday at Southend United.
Burton included former Coventry City defender Chris Hussey in their starting line up and went ahead in the 45th minute through an Adam McGurk strike.
Southend, sent on former City striker Freddie Eastwood in the 65th minute after Burton had been reduced to ten men when Ian Sharps was sent off for a second bookable offence, but there was no more goal and it was advantage Burton Albion.