Fleetwood Town host Burton Albion at Highbury Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a vital final-day game that could dictate who stays in League One for next season.
The home side's relegation has already been confirmed, while the visitors need to match Cheltenham Town's result in order to secure their safety in the division.
Match preview
Despite a fantastic victory over Leyton Orient in their previous outing, Fleetwood's relegation from the division was heartbreakingly confirmed after both Cheltenham and Burton won their games, putting them out of reach with just a single fixture left to play.
Their relegation brings an end to their 10-year stay in League One, seeing them set to compete in League Two for the first time since their playoff victory in 2013-14.
While disappointing for Fleetwood, relegation has been on the cards for the entirety of the season as they have spent just eight matchdays outside of the bottom four since the opening day.
A change in management heading into 2024 saw Charlie Adam take the reins and, while there has been an improvement in form since that appointment, it was never enough for Fleetwood to bridge the gap to safety.
They now host Burton Albion, who will be looking to avoid the same outcome as the hosts as they battle it out against Cambridge United and Cheltenham with the final relegation place still looming.
The visitors currently sit two points above 21st-placed Cheltenham and at minimum need to match the Robins' result if they are to confirm their place in the division for next year.
Vital wins over Stevenage and Reading in their previous three outings have kept Cheltenham at arm's length, with the Robins also winning twice in that time, and they will be looking to finish the season with back-to-back victories, something they have only managed on three occasions throughout this campaign.
Burton Albion have won in all of their last three visits to Highbury Stadium, something that will give Martin Paterson's side plenty of confidence heading into this crucial fixture.
Team News
Fleetwood are likely to be unchanged from the 11 that beat Leyton Orient 1-0 thanks to a 93rd-minute winner from Xavier Simons last weekend.
Top scorer Jayden Stockley has been limited to cameos in his most recent appearances but was absent from the travelling squad for the previous match, and the striker is unlikely to be available for this one.
After returning from injury for Burton Albion's 3-2 victory over Reading last weekend, Mason Bennett opened the scoring before being forced off with an injury late on in the game.
Mustapha Carayol and Joe Powell were also taken off during that win due to injuries leaving them unlikely to feature, while John Brayford is set to remain on the sidelines having sustained an injury against Stevenage.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Heneghan, Sarpong-Wiredu; Broom, Kilkenny, Lawal, Johnston; Simons; Graydon, Omochere
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Moon, Sweeney, Hughes, Seddon; Gilligan, Harper; Kamwa, Helm, Oshilaja; Hugill
We say: Fleetwood Town 2-3 Burton Albion
Burton Albion have been victorious in all of their last three visits to Highbury Stadium by single-goal margins, and with Fleetwood having little to play for after their relegation was confirmed last weekend, we expect that to be the case once again in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
