Burton v Accrington – Match Preview

Tomorrow we host Accrington Stanley in what proves to be a tricky home fixture but, at the same time, it gives The Brewers an ideal opportunity to exorcise the dreadful display we witnessed on Monday in the defeat to Hereford.

Accrington come to The Pirelli on the back of a great run of form, having won six and drawn three of their last nine league games. In fact you have to go all the way back to 25th October, when they lost 1-0 away to Shrewsbury, and they now find themselves in eleventh place, four points off a play-off place. Predictably they have a better goal difference than Burton, although only just with a +6 as opposed to our +2.

An integral part of their team is Bryan Hughes, a former Brewer whose playing career for us extended to 56 minutes at home to Shrewsbury last season. After spells with Grimsby Town and the extravagantly named Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja (they are from Iceland you know), he pitched up in Lancashire asking for a game and has repaid the faith John Coleman put in him with a return of a couple of goals, including a spectacular winner at Morecambe on Boxing Day.

Also likely to appear is Aristote Nsiala, signed on loan from Everton until Valentine`s Day. I wonder if the Accy faithful will fall in love with him? Aristote is a central defender and has previously spent time on loan at Macclesfield, appearing in ten league games for them last season.

Luke Joyce will should be in contention for a place in the squad, having completed a three-match ban for a sending off in the 3-1 win over Torquay in December. Missing for Accrington though will be Kevin Long and Will Hatfield, who have returned to Burnley and Leeds respectively after completing loan spells.

For Burton it looks grim for Billy Kee, who enjoyed a lengthy loan spell with Accrington during the 2009/2010 season, as he continues to struggle with a groin injury. If he is ruled out, then positively beaming will be Justin Richards, who will be pretty much guaranteed a starting place in the absence of our former Torquay front man. If Justin does start then expect to see the return of Adi Yussuf on the bench now he is fit again.

Another player guaranteed a starting spot will be Callum Driver, the young West Ham right-back who signed on loan today for a month. This will be his first taste of senior football, so fingers crossed he gets off to a good start and gives Andy Corbett yet another challenge when our regular in that position returns from his one match ban.

Elsewhere it is a case of horses for courses and you`d think that Pesch will move things around a little after the no-show from the team on Monday. Adam Bolder could see himself moving into a starting position, possibly at the expense of Macca, and you wonder whether Andres Gurrieri will ever get a start to show his capabilities before his short-term deal ends later this month.

Accrington have fared well on recent visits to The Pirelli, so for once lets hope they leave for home empty handed, with Burton redeeming themselves with a good win. It`s a hard one to predict, but given the Hereford performance, a hard to please crowd and Accrington`s run of form of late, we are going for a 2-1 win. To the visitors.

PS. According to Twitter, a group of Burton supporters are planning on standing on the Popside tomorrow, instead of the home end, to create “an atmosphere”. Just a thought – shouldn`t they create one in the home end first before setting out on their own personal crusade? The Pirelli isn`t known as “The Library” amongst visiting supporters for nothing. I think it`ll be interesting to see the reaction of the Popside moaners to a group of supporters cheering their team on, making noise and enjoying themselves! Actually, that sounds a bit patronising, which I never meant it to be. Anything that gets an atmosphere going in the stadium has got to be encouraged, so good luck lads but I don’t fancy your chances. That grumbling and moaning can overpower any singing….

PPS. Now all of you, regardless of how bad the team play tomorrow, lets hear no booing at half-time or full-time please. Apparently, again according to Twitter, some of our players were upset by the booing on Monday, although I have to say I didn`t hear any (I guess I was too cold and bored at the end!). Now I don`t boo personally, and never have done, but as paying customers I`d say that after witnessing such a shocking and gutless ninety minutes it was to be expected. Players need to be able to accept the praise when they have performed well, but also accept criticism when they play as badly as they did against Hereford.