Two sides in contrasting runs of form will meet at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, as Burton Albion entertain Stevenage.
The newly-promoted visitors sit fourth in the League One table in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten run, while their hosts have dropped to 17th spot following three straight league defeats.
Match preview
© Reuters
Burton Albion head into the weekend in the midst of a particularly difficult run of form in League One, having dropped down to 17th spot in England's third tier with just 20 points from their opening 19 matches under Dino Maamria's management.
That is despite the Brewer's impressive streak in October, as they put four consecutive victories together over Wigan Athletic, Cambridge United, Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers, but they have failed to put another notch in their wins column in the five attempts since.
In those five league outings, Maamria's men have managed just a single point while conceding eight goals and only scoring once, having started with a defeat to Carlisle United and a stalemate with Leyton Orient before suffering three straight defeats heading into the weekend.
After falling short away at Northampton Town, the Staffordshire outfit travelled to Peterborough United and suffered a 4-0 thrashing before most recently losing 2-0 at home to league leaders Portsmouth as Colby Bishop and Alex Robertson netted goals for the visitors, although they may now head into the weekend with a degree of renewed confidence, having come out on top away at Wrexham in the EFL Trophy second round on Wednesday.
Goals from Deji Oshilaja, Mark Helm and Ryan Sweeney saw Maamria's men leave the Racecourse Ground with a 3-2 triumph and punch their ticket to the next stage, and they will now hope to carry that into Saturday and reverse their fortunes in the third tier with a sixth league win of the campaign.
© Reuters
That will certainly be no easy task, though, as Stevenage arrive aiming to continue their eye-catching run and further strengthen their standing in the leading pack.
Following their promotion from England's fourth tier last time around, Steve Evans's side enjoyed a pleasing start to the new term, establishing themselves at the top end of the division with 23 points from their first 15 matches, and they have gone from strength to strength since, moving into the top six and extending an unbeaten run to seven matches.
Following consecutive draws, the Boro quickly scaled the top half with an eye-catching streak of four straight victories, seeing off Derby County, Wycombe Wanderers, Lincoln City and Fleetwood Town while scoring eight goals and only conceding once.
That left Evans's men on 35 points from 19 outings heading into a tricky test at home to Peterborough United last Tuesday, and while they did not manage to capitalise on a two-goal lead and make it five three-point hauls on the bounce, they did take a creditable share of the spoils to extend the unbeaten run, as the contest ended in a 2-2 draw after initially going ahead through Luther Wildin and Ben Thompson before being pegged back in the second half.
Stevenage now return to league action on the back of an FA Cup draw last weekend, as a second-round home tie with Port Vale ended level at a goal apiece, and turning their focus back to what has been a notably impressive campaign thus far, they have the chance to crack the top three with a victory on Saturday with third-placed Oxford United only leading them on goal difference, while Bolton Wanderers in the top two are only three points better off.
Team News
© Reuters
Burton Albion will be boosted by the return of left-back Steve Seddon on Saturday, after he served a suspension in their EFL Trophy win over Wrexham, while experienced defender and club captain John Brayford was fit to make the bench for that tie after an injury layoff.
If deemed fit to feature, he could come in from the outset to join either Ryan Sweeney or Sam Hughes at the heart of the back four, while Seddon should retake his place on the left-hand side with Jake Caprice likely to stay in on the opposite side.
After several rotations were made for the trip to Wrexham, Cole Stockton should return from the start to lead the line, while Joe Powell should again join Deji Oshilaja and Mark Helm in midfield, having netted a team-high tally of four goals so far this term while Oshilaja and Helm both got on the scoresheet in midweek.
If Nathan Thompson returns to contention in time for the weekend, Stevenage will likely have a clean bill of health, and he may rejoin Terence Vancooten and Carl Piergianni in a back three.
Ahead of them, Finley Burns could again partner Ben Thompson in the engine room, while Jordan Roberts will likely lend support to the front line in a 3-4-1-2 shape.
The attack will be spearheaded by Jamie Reid, who has already notched up 16 goals in all competitions so far this season, including 12 in 19 League One appearances, while Elliott List and Kane Hemmings should fight to join him up top.
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Caprice, Hughes, Brayford, Seddon; Powell, Oshilaja, Helm; Bennett, Stockton, Baah
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; Vancooten, N Thompson, Piergianni; Wildin, Burns, B Thompson, Butler; Roberts; Reid, Hemmings
We say: Burton Albion 0-2 Stevenage
While Burton Albion will hope to build on their midweek cup win with home advantage, we can only see the two sides' league runs continuing on Saturday and tip Steve Evans's side to further strengthen their position in the leading pack with a victory at the Pirelli Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
