The Mackems who said at the end of last season: "We won't be in the Championship for long!" are on course to be right.
It could well be League Two next season!
Burton condemned Jose Morais to defeat in his first game in charge of Barnsley with a 2-1 victory which moved Albion off the bottom of the Championship.
The Portuguese, appointed as Paul Heckingbottom's successor last week, suffered a dismal start to life at Oakwell as Jamie Allen's screamer put the visitors 1-0 ahead inside a minute.
Jacob Davenport doubled Burton's advantage with a free-kick on the stroke of half-time and they held on despite Daniel Pinillos' 75th-minute goal.
Burton leapfrogged Sunderland and Barnsley but remain in the bottom three, below Hull only on goal difference.
Sunderland dropped to the foot of the table after losing 1-0 at fellow strugglers Bolton.