Burton Albionvs.Rotherham

The hosts moved off the foot of the table with a long-awaited return to winning ways on Tuesday, while their visitors have risen to 13th spot in the midst of a growing unbeaten streak.

Match preview

Burton Albion return to League One action on Saturday aiming to give their survival hopes another boost, having climbed off the foot of the table in midweek after a dismal start to the campaign.

Following the brief tenures of Mark Robinson and Tom Hounsell, Gary Bowyer arrived at the Pirelli Stadium with the Brewers sat on just 12 points from 19 outings, and he was unable to inspire an initial improvement as his first five games at the helm produced two draws and their 12th, 13th and 14th league defeats of the campaign.

A trip to fellow strugglers Crawley Town then followed last weekend, and Bowyer's men were able to leave with a point, having led through Rumarn Burrell until Tola Showumni's 72nd-minute leveller, before they most recently visited Wigan Athletic on Tuesday in a bid to end an eight-game wait for a third League One win of the campaign.

Despite falling behind to a Thelo Aasgaard goal, the Brewers succeeded in ending that winless run, as Jon Dadi Bodvarsson instantly levelled the scores before Burrell sealed a 2-1 victory with a goal on the hour mark.

Having now moved up to 23rd spot, but still sitting three points behind 21st-placed Crawley and eight adrift of safety, they require a sustained improvement to stand a chance of maintaining their third-tier status and will bid to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign on Saturday.

They face a tough test, though, with the visitors aiming to extend their strongest run of the season thus far and break into League One's top half at the weekend.

Aiming to bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking under the management of Steve Evans following last season's Championship relegation, Rotherham United endured a disappointing first half to the campaign, as back-to-back defeats either side of Christmas left them on just 23 points from 20 games, having lost nine of those while only winning six.

The Millers have since gone unbeaten in five league games and six in all competitions, though, firstly playing out draws against promotion-chasers Stockport County and Huddersfield Town either side of a victory over Lincoln City, before seeing off Bolton Wanderers and Chesterfield in the league and EFL Trophy third round respectively.

Aiming to build on their new momentum, the South Yorkshire outfit then most recently hosted Charlton Athletic last weekend and took all three points in an eventful contest, having led 3-1 at the interval through Andre Green, Alex MacDonald and Zak Jules and gone 4-1 up through Mallik Wilks, before Matt Godden netted a late consolation for the visitors.

Having quickly climbed to 13th spot as a result of their recent improvement, Rotherham United now only sit a single point outside the top half and seven behind the playoffs, and they will hope to continue their rise towards the right end of the division.

Burton Albion League One form:

L

D

D

L

D

W

Rotherham United League One form:

L

D

W

D

W

W

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

W

W

Team News

Burton Albion should field an unchanged starting XI from their midweek victory, with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Rumarn Burrell continuing to lead the line after both scoring in that game, while the latter has found the net three times in his last four appearances.

That leaves top scorer Danilo Orsi to feature from the bench, having netted seven goals so far this season, while Mason Bennett and Billy Bodin should also settle for substitute appearances in attack.

Jack Armer, Ryan Sweeney and Terence Vancooten are all bound to continue in the middle of the defence, with Owen Dodgson and Udoka Godwin-Malife taking up wing-back roles.

Rotherham United could also be unchanged from their latest victory, with Hakeem Odoffin set to continue alongside Zak Jules at the heart of the back four despite Sean Raggett's return from injury.

Following Odoffin's move back, usual midfielder Cameron Humphreys has impressed at the base of the engine room in recent weeks and should again join Joe Powell, Alex MacDonald and Shaun McWilliams.

Despite competition from Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jordan Hugill, Andre Green and Mallik Wilks will continue to partner up in attack, having both scored in last week's win.

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Godwin-Malife, Armer, Sweeney, Vancooten, Dodgson; Webster, Chauke, McKiernan; Bodvarsson, Burrell

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; Rafferty, Odoffin, Jules, James; MacDonald, Humphreys, McWilliams, Powell; Wilks, Green

We say: Burton Albion 1-2 Rotherham United

Burton Albion should have some much-needed confidence from their return to winning ways on Tuesday, but they face a tough test against a Rotherham United side who finally appear to be making their quality count.

Written by

Sam Varley

Previews by email