Match Preview | Burton Albion v Wanderers

Match Preview Burton

Wanderers head to Burton hoping their fresh start extends to a first ever win at the Pirelli Stadium.

The Whites are yet to taste victory in five trips to face the Brewers, although they have drawn on three of those occasions. Boss Steven Schumacher has not enjoyed a victory there either but has his team in fine form and unbeaten since his first game in charge.

Wanderers' mid-week 3-1 victory over league leaders Birmingham City made it six wins from their last eight league games and Schumacher's men will be seeking an eighth away success of the season as they look to force their way into play-off places.

Burton are still in the bottom four but have given themselves a chance of beating the drop since the appointment of Gary Bowyer as manager just before Christmas.

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John McAtee celebrates George Thomason goal versus Birmingham

The Brewers are just three points behind Bristol Rovers - Wanderers' opponents next Tuesday night - in the final safe spot.

Press conference

Steven Schumacher: "Tuesday's game was obviously a highlight and something that we all enjoyed, in a brilliant atmosphere against a top-quality opposition and Saturday's game will be the same and we'll be saying the same to the players.

"It's going to be a tough game for us. Burton is never an easy place to go. They're a team who are in good form at the moment, so we have to make sure that we're ready for it and compete and work as hard as we did on Tuesday to get what we all want, which is another three points.

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Steven Schumacher versus Birmingham City

"Again, it'll be a different style of game, you would expect. Burton Albion won't play the same style of football as Birmingham did, or probably as Wrexham did either. They're probably somewhere in the middle, so we have to pick a team and come up with a plan that we think will give us the best chance of winning.

"But once again the message will be over to the players; we can set you up and we can try and come up with the ideas but it's over to them to go out and perform and play at the intensity and the energy that they've shown lately. It'll be another good game for us, and one we should be going into it full of confidence."

Gary Bowyer: "They've got a fantastic manager and good staff with him. You look at their squad and they probably have the belief that they should be chasing automatics (promotion).

"Schumacher's put some good results behind him so they'll be coming here and trying to push for those play-off positions at this moment in time. From our point of view, I can't wait because we'll see the lessons that we've learnt from Tuesday night and put them into practice."

(On Jon Dadi Bodvarsson) "He was injured for Bolton's play-off final last year and he never got the chance to say a proper goodbye to their fans, so whether he's on the pitch or not it will be really good for the Bolton fans to show their appreciation to a top player and a wonderful human being."

Team news

Will Forrester wasn't risked by the Whites on Tuesday night due to a hamstring issue and will be checked - along with Gethin Jones - ahead of the game. 

Defensive colleague Ricardo Almeida Santos is back in training but not yet ready to return following a pelvic injury, while midfielder Kyle Dempsey is also building up his fitness. Striker Victor Adeboyejo has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and beyond as he awaits an operation to repair knee ligament damage.

Former Wanderers' striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson will be hoping to recover sufficiently from the calf injury that has kept him out of Burton's last two games. Fellow January signing James Jones remains a doubt but defender Terence Vancooten will be back from suspension for the Brewers.

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Will Forrester versus Wrexham

Form guide

Wanderers have won six and drawn one of their last eight league games - coming from behind in each of their last four wins - and are unbeaten in their last two away games.

The goals are also flowing for the Whites, with 12 goals in their last five league games as they hunt down the play-off places. A first victory at the Pirelli Stadium could have them in the top six by Saturday night. Wanderers have never won at Burton Albion but are unbeaten against the Brewers in their last five meetings home and away.

Burton have been rejuvenated under former Blackburn and Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer, losing just three times since Boxing Day to boost their survival hopes. The last of those defeats came at promotion-chasing Wycombe in mid-week but at home Bowyer's men have lost just once in six games.

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John McAtee and Aaron Collins celebrate versus Burton

Kick-Off

Saturday 3pm.

Referee

Lee Swabey will officiate Saturday's game.

He last refereed Wanderers in their trip to Charlton Athletic back in August.

Wanderers TV

Tickets for this game are SOLD OUT with over 1,600 Whites making the trip.

Audio passes will be available, as always, for UK-based supporters. Those based internationally can stream the game through a live video match pass on Wanderers TV.

Click HERE to purchase a pass.

Read Time: 5 mins