Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium.
The Brewers are currently 23rd in League One after a difficult start to the season, while the visitors are flying high in fourth place.
Match preview
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Despite sitting in the drop zone, the hosts have enjoyed their best spell of the season following the dismissal of head coach Mark Robinson in October, with only one defeat in five games under interim boss Tom Hounsell.
Included in that run is their most recent league outing, a 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town, which helped Burton climb off the bottom of the table as they secured their first win of the campaign at the 14th attempt.
In doing so, they sent Shrewsbury to the foot of the table, and under Hounsell the Brewers have claimed as many points in three league games as they had in 11 under Robinson.
Less than a month after the change in management, there is still plenty of work to be done at the club, who remain six points away from safety but will be encouraged by their upturn in fortunes in recent weeks.
Whether the interim boss has done enough to earn a permanent role at the club remains to be seen, as the reported top contender for the job, Rochdale's Jim McNulty, is believed to have turned down the opportunity.
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Meanwhile, their opponents this weekend have had a much smoother ride this season and have adapted well to life in League One after being promoted as champions of League Two last season.
Since coming up, Stockport have performed better in their home matches, with 17 of their 27 points this season coming at Edgeley Park - where they have played their last six fixtures in all competitions.
Despite getting used to home comforts of late, their two away league wins this season have come against Blackpool and Shrewsbury, two sides that, like this weekend's opponents, are in the relegation picture.
A key part of County's success is striker Louie Barry, the league's top scorer with 11 goals in 16 games, including last weekend's winner in a 1-0 victory against Wrexham.
The youngster is on loan from Aston Villa for the second season running and is making up for lost time last year after he missed six months due to injury in 2023-24.
Having played a part in the League Two title win, both Stockport and Barry will be hoping that the goals continue to flow for the rest of the season, as the visitors hunt for a fourth promotion in seven seasons.
Team News
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With no fresh injury woes, Burton are likely to stick with a similar side to the one which won against Shrewsbury last time out in League One.
Their biggest goal threat is Danilo Orsi, who has netted six goals since joining from Crawley Town in the summer, while fellow summer signing Romelle Donovan impressed in the recent EFL Trophy win at Northampton Town, leading to some calls from the Burton faithful for him to start more often in the league.
The youngster is on loan from Birmingham City and has had limited action in League One so far this season, but at just 17, he appears to be a bright prospect for the future.
Stockport were dealt a blow recently, when Tyler Onyango went off injured in an FA Cup tie against Forest Green Rovers, with the Everton loanee expected to miss the next three months of action.
Fellow loanee Michael Mellon is a doubt for this game following a string of injuries since arriving from Burnley in the summer, the latest of which being a shin injury sustained during the Forest Green game.
Another player facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines is former Manchester United player Nick Powell, who is out for at least two more months with a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere, Jay Mingi, Callum Camps and Kyle Knoyle are all continuing their recoveries from long-term injuries, making for a busy treatment room at the club.
Therefore, Stockport boss Dave Challinor will have welcomed the recent returns of Macauley Southam-Hales and Ryan Rydel, with both players expected to feature for the visitors this weekend.
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Bannon, Vancooten, Sweeney, Armer; Watt, Webster, Bodin, Bennett, Kalinauskas; Orsi
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Southam-Hales, Norwood, Bate, Rydel; Collar, Wootton, Barry
We say: Burton Albion 1-2 Stockport County
Stockport have adapted well to life in League One, and while Burton have improved under Hounsell, we expect the visitors to take the points this weekend.
With Barry spearheading the attack, the Hatters should have too much firepower for a leaky Burton defence to cope with.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Tom Humphrey
