AT at a time when Harriers are sifting through a long list of possible candidates they have finally found a leading contender - for worst performance of the season, that is.

Without tempting fate, it's fair to say Harriers would be hard-pressed to put in a more inept display than the lacklustre one they served up against the Brewers.

Their limp and lifeless showing against Nigel Clough's part-timers proved that this Kidderminster team simply do not learn from their mistakes.

It's no secret that their similarly shocking surrender at the Pirelli Stadium last month contributed greatly to Stuart Watkiss's surprise sacking.

And another no-show which has replaced Kidderminster's Christmas spirit with festive frustration has all but ended Martin O'Connor's chances of keeping the job.

Having struggled against the elements all day to get the game on, Harriers' hard-working ground staff and supporters will be wondering why they bothered.

It took Kidderminster fully 39 minutes to register their first shot of any description and even then Gareth Sheldon's effort after a smart one-two with Lee Thompson hardly troubled Albion keeper Saul Deeney.

Burton in contrast looked as though they actually wanted to win, a mentality the Aggborough men would have done well to adopt.

Dan Lewis did his best to keep the Brewers at bay, single-handedly stopping Harriers old boy Andy Ducros's shot from the edge of the box, getting down well to deny Shaun Harrad and clutching Jon Shaw's free header at the near post.

The Harriers stopper also managed to smother a cross-shot from Darren Tinson, while Harrad blazed a great chance over as Harriers struggled to cope with the visitors' verve and energy.

It was a similar story after the break as Harrad slid another chance wide and Shaw guided a header off target, while, at the other end Mark Jackson had a header cleared off the line and Sheldon fired straight into the arms of Deeney.

Keith Gilroy picked up where he had left off at the Pirelli Stadium by continuing to torment the Harriers backline with his turn of pace and close control.

But while he missed a hatful of chances in the corresponding fixture at Burton, the dangerous winger made no mistake with the winning goal.

Other than an error at Accrington, keeper Lewis has been fairly consistent since been given his big chance in place of John Danby.

But his mis-kick midway through the second half proved costly, costing Kidderminster a point and the young stopper his place in the team.

Lewis had hinted that his kicking was less than confident when he sliced a back pass into touch on a surface that had only been deemed playable hours earlier.

So rather than rolling another pass back to his keeper Johnny Mullins would have been better just clearing the ball out of the danger zone.

Instead he proceeded to put Lewis under intense pressure and with Shaun Harrad tirelessly closing down, the Kidderminster custodian miscontrolled the ball and screwed it to the edge of the box.

Gilroy took full advantage returning the ball with interest with a fine volleyed finish from 18 yards which flew into the roof of the unguarded net.

As Harriers chased an equaliser substitute Taiwo Atieno continued his habit of getting the ball stuck under his feet in threatening positions, firing weakly at Deeney.

And although there were half-hearted shouts for a penalty when Sheldon tumbled under a robust challenge from ex-Harrier Andy Corbett, a late life-line would have been more than Kidderminster deserved.