Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Cheltenham Town and Burton Albion, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two sides looking to avoid relegation come together on Saturday as Burton Albion travel to Whaddon Road to face Cheltenham Town.
Cheltenham are currently 21st and three points from safety, whilst Burton are five points clear of the relegation zone heading into this game.
Match preview
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After a historically-bad start to the season, Cheltenham have seen their hopes of survival boosted by an upturn in form in recent weeks.
The Robins went an EFL-record 12 games without scoring from the start of the campaign and remarkably did not pick up their first win of the season until their 15th outing.
However, a run of three straight wins in February – Cheltenham’s best run of league form since March 2021 – saw them close the gap to safety, and they now sit only three points away from the coveted spot above the dotted line.
Crucially, Darrell Clarke‘s side also boast two games in hand over the three sides immediately above them in the table, meaning that survival remains in their hands despite spending 18 of the 33 matchdays to date propping up the rest of the standings.
Burton, who face Cheltenham in one of those games in hand, have also flirted with the relegation places this season and now find themselves with only a five-point margin from the bottom four.
The Brewers have not finished below 16th in League One since they were relegated into the division in 2018-19, but they have been on a downward trend since then.
If Burton are to stay up then manager Martin Peterson will have to get his side back amongst the goals as the Brewers have failed to score in either of their last two games.
This comes with the poor return from their attacking players in front of goal, with their top scorers Joe Powell and Mark Helm level on just four goals apiece.
With back-to-back losses in their last two, Burton will be trying to avoid making it three in a row as they look to avoid getting dragged any further into the ongoing relegation battle heading into the closing stages of the season.
Cheltenham Town League One form:
Burton Albion League One form:
Team News
Cheltenham Town will be coming into this one in the privileged position of having a fully fit squad to choose from.
Clarke could look to give Josh Harrop his first start for the club since joining during the January window, with the midfielder making a positive impact off the bench in Cheltenham’s last game.
Burton Albion will be able to line up with an almost identical team to their last outing, with Mason Bennett the only doubt after he was subbed off in the 18th minute with injury.
This leaves Paterson with the decision of who to play alongside Ademola Ola-Adebomi in the striker position, with potential options being Joe Hugill and Antwoine Hackford.
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Davies, Shepherd, Freestone; Long, Bonds, Pett, Sercombe, Harrop; Lloyd, Taylor
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Hamer, Nsiala, Brayford, Sweeney, Bola; Oshilaja, Powell, Helm; Ola-Adebomi, Hackford
We say: Cheltenham Town 0-1 Burton Albion
Burton Albion have not lost to Cheltenham Town in any competition since November 2012 and have won five in this time, which will leave them confident of securing all three points.
Neither side have been prolific in front of goal this season, scoring 28 and 29 respectively, and we doubt this one will provide many goals either.
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