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

The Brewers are embroiled in a relegation battle in League One and will be looking for a pleasant distraction when they face off against the National League South side this weekend.

Match preview

Burton have struggled to move up the third-tier table over the past few months following the sacking of former-boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, with 52-year-old Dino Maamria finding the assignment in Staffordshire tough since he took over at the start of September.

Albion - who enjoyed two seasons in the Championship between 2016 and 2018 - are six points off safety in the League One standings, having collected a mere 14 points from their opening 19 matches in the league.

Defensive issues have plagued Burton's campaign so far, with the Brewers conceding a league-high 40 goals so far this season, and have recorded only two clean sheets in League One all term.

Burton have been handed some favourable draws in this year's FA Cup, most recently with non-league Chippenham but also their first-round opponents Needham Market who play in the seventh tier of English football.

Goals from Deji Oshilaja and Joe Powell secured a comfortable victory in the last round, with progression to the third round an expectation amongst supporters who will cheer on the home side on Sunday.

Chippenham have not earned three points in a National League South fixture since the end of September, with an eight-game winless run in the sixth tier leaving them just inside the relegation zone as the campaign approaches its half-way point.

The Wiltshire-based club have been a different beast in the FA cup however, defeating seventh-tier side Hendon in the final qualification round before pulling off an impressive 1-0 victory against League One's Lincoln City in the first round.

Town supporters at Hardenhuish Park that day witnessed their side score against and keep out a third-tier outfit, quite the achievement considering Chippenham are the lowest scorers in their league so far this season, netting just 12 times in 17 matches.

Manager Gary Horgan has the opportunity on Sunday to be the first manager ever to guide Chippenham into the third-round draw, but with 71 places between the two sides in the football pyramid the visitors will need to produce quite the display to secure their passage into unprecedented territory.

Burton Albion FA Cup form:

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Burton Albion form (all competitions):

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Chippenham Town FA Cup form:

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Chippenham Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Burton winger Mustapha Carayol scored a late equaliser in the EFL Trophy win over Tranmere Rovers in the week and the 34-year-old could be rewarded with only his second start in all competition this season.

Jonny Smith is suffering from a groin issue and is a doubt for the hosts on Sunday, with the attacker pulling up strangely with the injury during the half-time break as his manager prepared to put him into the action against Plymouth Argyle.

Chippenham are hopeful of having striker Jordan Young fit in time for Sunday's match, with the 23-year-old a real threat for Town when at his best in National League South.

The same can be said for Craig Fasanmade, who scored on his debut for the club before suffering an unfortunate injury, with Horgan believing the inclusion of him and Young can make Chippenham a "completely different side" to the one that has been struggling for goals in the sixth tier.

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Garratt; Hamer, Hughes, Mariappa, Borthwick-Jackson; Taylor, Oshilaja, Kamwa, Onyango, Dodoo; Adeboyejo

Chippenham Town possible starting lineup:

Henry; Hamilton, Richards, Minturn, Jones; Mehew, Russe, Bray, Hanks, Bradbury; Parsons

We say: Burton Albion 1-0 Chippenham Town

Sunday sees League One's worst defence host National League South's worst attack in what promises to be a nervy match for both sets of supporters.

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