Burton Albion face a key opportunity to steady themselves when they host Mansfield Town at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday. The Brewers sit 11th in League One with eight points from six games, a position they will want to solidify after a heavy 3-0 loss away to Oxford United last time out.
That defeat at the Kassam Stadium, where goals from Siriki Dembele, Louie Sibley and Gatlin O'Donkor sealed the result, snapped a run of positive home form. In their previous two matches at the Pirelli, Burton had drawn 2-2 with Cambridge United and thrashed AFC Wimbledon 4-1. Their last meeting with Mansfield ended in a goalless draw back in April.
Nigel Clough's side are likely to field a similar lineup to the one that started against Oxford, with the 3-4-2-1 shape featuring Caylon Vickers and R. Borges Rodrigues in advanced roles behind a central striker. The manager will demand a response, particularly in defence after conceding three late goals last weekend.
Mansfield arrive in 17th place, having drawn 0-0 with Huddersfield in their last outing. Their recent form has been mixed, including a heavy 5-0 loss at Reading. Their setup under manager Nigel Clough, a familiar face at Burton, typically uses a 3-1-4-2 formation with experienced forwards like David McGoldrick.
A win for Burton would push them closer to the top half and provide momentum ahead of a busy period. The match kicks off at 11:30 UTC.
