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

The hosts, meanwhile, will be seeking to avoid a third successive defeat in all competitions and win their first home game against the Brewers since November 2014.

Match preview

Shrewsbury made a bright start to September with back-to-back league victories against Forest Green Rovers and Exeter City, beating the former 2-0 on the road and the latter 3-2 on home soil.

However, Steve Cotterill's side have since suffered successive defeats to Port Vale in two different competitions, firstly losing 2-1 away from home in the third tier before suffering a heavy 4-0 home defeat in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, albeit with a much-rotated side.

With their hopes of progression from the EFL Trophy group stage all but over, Shrewsbury now turn their attention back to League One, where they currently sit 12th in the table after claiming three victories, three draws and three defeats from their nine matches.

Consistency has been lacking for Cotterill and co, but Saturday's fixture against Burton will be viewed as a good opportunity to begin a strong run of form as they bid to climb towards the playoff positions.

The Shrews have won two of their last three meetings with the Brewers, including last season's 2-0 away win in February, and a victory this weekend could see them climb as high as fifth in the table if other results were to go their way.

Meanwhile, Burton's five-game losing run in League One came to an end last weekend when they secured a 2-0 victory away against Exeter.

After a goalless first half, the Brewers scored twice within six second-half minutes courtesy of strikes from Deji Oshilaja and Davis Keillor-Dunn, before holding on for their first victory of the campaign.

Claiming three points and a clean sheet will have delighted head coach Dino Maamria, who replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the beginning of this month, and his side have since built on the victory with a 3-2 success away against Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

While Burton are top of their group in the EFL Trophy, they remain at the foot of the League One standings and four points adrift from safety, but there are grounds for optimism as four of their next five opponents are currently in the bottom half of the table.

The Brewers also have an impressive away record against Saturday's challengers Shrewsbury, as they are unbeaten in each of their last six visits to New Meadow, including a 1-0 win in August last season.

Shrewsbury Town competition form:

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L

D

W

W

L

Shrewsbury Town form (all competitions):

D

L

W

W

L

L

Burton Albion competition form:

L

L

L

L

L

W

Burton Albion form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

W

W

Team News

Shrewsbury boss Cotterill made nine changes to his side in midweek but he is expected to recall a number of his first-team regulars on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Marko Marosi is set to replace Harry Burgoyne between the sticks, while Matthew Pennington, Chey Dunkley and Tom Flanagan are all expected to return at centre-back.

With Julien Da Costa sidelined with a double hernia, either Carl Winchester or Rekiel Pyke could start at right wing-back, while Christian Saydee and Ryan Bowman are set to lead the line, with striker Daniel Udoh ruled out with an ACL injury.

As for Burton, Maamria is set to stick with the 4-3-3 formation that he used in his first three games in charge, which could see John Brayford start again at centre-back alongside Sam Hughes while Conor Shaughnessy continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Striker Sam Winnall will be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead of Victor Adeboyejo after scoring in midweek.

Winger Mustapha Carayol, who joined the Brewers on a free transfer earlier this month, will be competing with Joe Powell and Jonny Smith for a place on the right flank.

Shrewsbury Town possible starting lineup:

Marosi, Pennington, Dunkley, Flanagan; Pyke, Moore, Bayliss, Leahy, Nurse; Bowman, Saydee

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Garratt; Hamer, Brayford, Hughes, Borthwick-Jackson; Lakin, Butcher, Oshilaja; Powell, Adeboyejo, Keillor-Dunn

We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Burton Albion

The two sides head into Saturday's contest off the back of contrasting results from their last two matches, with Burton seeking to claim a third successive win in all competitions.

However, we expect a response from Shrewsbury in front of their own fans and they should do enough to claim at least a draw at New Meadow.

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