Burton were left to rue their bad luck as early pace-setters Dagenham & Redbridge staged a smash and grab raid on Eton Park.
Already depleted by injuries, Burton had defender Terry Henshaw taken to hospital after 12 minutes fearing he may have broken his right leg and then saw Dagenham score three breakaway goals.
Burton dominated the game almost from start to finish but were undone by the pace of Chris Moore who set up all of Dagenham's goals.
The first came in the fifth minute when Moore got clear down the left before hitting a low cross to leave veteran strike partner John Taylor with a simple tap-in at the far post.
Despite the loss of Henshaw and a poor start to the season, Burton showed plenty of spirit and enterprise and had chances to level the scores either side of the interval.
Makeshift striker Craig Dudley and skipper Darren Stride both had headers brilliantly saved by Tony Roberts and midfielder Andy Ducros unbelievably sidefooted wide of a gaping net from six yards.
Burton were made to play dearly in the 54th minute when Moore again galloped clear to lay on a close-range finish for Mark Janney.
Burton bravely staged another fight back and it seemed they might still rescue a point when player manager Nigel Clough reduced the deficit in the 61st minute with a volley from 15 yards.
But they could not handle the pace of Moore who was instrumental in a third Dagenham goal, brilliantly finished by substitute Craig Mackail-Smith in the 76th minute.
A minute later the Daggers were reduced to ten men when defender Ashley Vickers was sent off for a second yellow card, but by then John Still's men had the points in the bag.