Preview: Burton Albion vs. Shrewsbury Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are currently 15th in the League One table, picking up 27 points from their opening 24 matches, while Burton Albion are 18th, three points behind their opponents in this match.

Match preview

Burton Albion sacked Dino Maamria as head coach earlier this month, with Gary Mills remaining in charge on a caretaker basis, and he managed to lead the team to a 1-0 success over Blackpool on Boxing Day.

Bobby Kamwa netted the only goal of the contest in the 10th minute of the match, and the victory moved the Staffordshire outfit into 18th position in the table.

Burton Albion have won six, drawn six and lost 11 of their 23 league matches this season to collect 24 points, and they are now five points ahead of the relegation zone following their victory over Blackpool.

The Brewers, who finished 15th in League One last season, have picked up 15 points from their 11 home league games this term, only managing four wins in the process.

Burton Albion have also lost each of their last four matches against Shrewsbury, including a 2-1 defeat when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match earlier this season.

Shrewsbury have actually won five of their last six matches against Burton Albion, all of which have been in League One, while they have lost just once to Friday's opposition since December 2018.

The Shrews will enter this match in disappointing form, though, having lost their last three games in League One to Portsmouth, Peterborough United and Cheltenham Town, conceding seven times in the process.

Matt Taylor's side had been on a four-game unbeaten run before the three-match losing run, and the disappointing results have seen them drop into 15th position in the table, just three points above their opponents in this contest.

Shrewsbury have struggled on their travels this season, picking up just eight points from 12 matches, while they have incredibly only scored three times away from home this term.

The Shropshire outfit have been in League One since the 2015-16 campaign, so it would be a surprise to see them relegated this term, but they have finished 17th and 18th in two of their last three seasons.

Burton Albion League One form:

L

L

L

L

D

W

Burton Albion form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

D

W

Shrewsbury Town League One form:

W

D

W

L

L

L

Shrewsbury Town form (all competitions):

D

W

W

L

L

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Having not suffered any injuries during the clash with Blackpool, it would not be a surprise to see caretaker head coach Mills select the same XI for this match.

Kamwa netted the only goal of the contest at Boxing Day and is set to continue down the left, while Beryly Lubala, who has three league goals to his name this term, should lead the line.

Joe Powell has contributed four league goals from midfield this season, and he will also feature in the starting XI for the home side here.

As for Shrewsbury, head coach Taylor is expected to freshen up his attack for this match, with Max Mata likely to be introduced in the final third of the field.

The 23-year-old has only netted once in the league this season, but he could be given the chance to feature from the first whistle, with Taylor Perry potentially dropping out.

Dominic Udoh is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with three, and the 27-year-old will continue in a forward area for the out-of-form visitors.

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Hughes, Brayford, Sweeney; Caprice, Powell, Oshilaja, Seddon; Baah, Lubala, Kamwa

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi; Dunkley, Pierre, Anderson; Bennett, Winchester, Kenneh, Shipley; Udoh, Mata, Bowman

We say: Burton Albion 1-0 Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury have lost eight of their 12 away league matches this season, while Burton Albion have posted four wins in front of their own supporters. We are expecting a close game on Friday evening but believe that the hosts will just about shade the contest to collect a huge three points.

Previews by email