Northamptonvs.Burton Albion

The two sides are among the favourites to be relegated into League Two, and even this early into the season this game could prove to be a crucial six-pointer.

Match preview

Northampton head into Saturday's game with four points from their opening three games, including an impressive 2-1 win at home to Exeter City and last weekend's 2-2 draw at Barnsley.

In the Oakwell draw, two quickfire goals from Liam McCarron and Jack Baldwin sealed a late and impressive comeback for the Cobblers, and with Callum Morton and Cameron McGeehan on the scoresheet against Exeter, the Saddlers have demonstrated that they can score goals from a number of areas.

Manager Jon Brady will be delighted with the start his side have made, and having navigated them to a comfortable 14th-place finish last season, he will be hoping that this early momentum can see Northampton stay clear of a predicted relegation battle.

Brady has also brought in plenty of experience in this transfer window, with the likes of McGeehan, Tom Eaves, James Wilson and Tariqe Fosu having joined the Cobblers over the summer.

These additions have been complemented by the loanee arrivals of 20-year-olds Luke Mbete of Manchester City and Matt Dibley-Dias from Fulham, and this blend of youth and experience looks to be a strong formula given Northampton's solid start in League One.

For Burton, even this early on it looks to be another season of trying to fight off relegation despite putting in some gutsy performances in their first three league games.

An opening-day 3-2 defeat at home to Lincoln City was followed up with a pulsating 3-3 draw away to Mansfield Town in which they were denied victory by a last-gasp penalty for the hosts.

The Brewers then followed this up with a 3-1 win over Leicester City's Under-21s in the Football League Trophy, courtesy of goals from Mason Bennett, Ryan Sweeney and Danilo Orsi, with last weekend's 0-0 stalemate at home to Stevenage being their first clean sheet of the season.

Mark Robinson has been busy in the summer window as he looks to assemble a squad that can stay in the division, with Terence Vancooten of Stevenage being the standout signing of the summer for the Brewers, and the additions of Billy Bodin from Oxford United and Tomas Kalinauskas from FC Den Bosch representing some exciting signatures for the club.

Burton however lost both of their league meetings against Northampton 2-0 last season, and they might need some of their new faces to step up if they are to overcome recent history and drag themselves up the league table.

Northampton Town League One form:

Northampton Town form (all competitions):

Burton Albion League One form:

Burton Albion form (all competitions):

Team News

Northampton have no injury concerns heading into Saturday's encounter with Burton, and Brady's main selection headache is likely to be whether he opts for Eaves, Morton or Wilson to lead the line.

Ben Fox will also be vying for a starting berth over loanee Samy Chouchane should the manager look to go with a more experienced midfield partner for McGeehan.

Burton similarly have no injury worries for their trip to Sixfields, but midfielder Charlie Webster could be primed for a start alongside Elliot Watt in the holding midfield slot, with Ciaran Gilligan potentially making way.

Elsewhere, Jack Cooper-Love and Bennett will be pushing for starts in the front three, and the latter could be preferred due to his pace on the counter.

Northampton Town possible starting lineup:

Burge; McGowan, Willis, Guthrie, Mbete; Chouchane, Pinnock, McGeehan; Hoskins, Fosu, Wilson

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Vancooten, Sweeney, Armer; Godwin-Malife, Webster, Watt, Williams; Bodin, Bennett; Orsi

We say: Northampton Town 2-1 Burton Albion

Northampton have made a solid start to their league campaign and having fought back so heroically against Barnsley last time out, confidence is sure to be high for the Cobblers.

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