Stevenage travel to Staffordshire for a Sky Bet League One clash with Dino Maamria’s Burton Albion…
Boro have enjoyed a superb start to life in the third tier, having won ten of their first twenty league games, which sees them occupy fourth place in League One. In the side’s latest league game, they welcomed fellow promotion chasers, Peterborough United, to The Lamex Stadium before being held to a 2-2 draw.
Later in the week, attention briefly turned to the FA Cup as a 1-1 draw with Port Vale resulted in a replay away from home this coming Tuesday.
The Opposition
Burton Albion have had a rather unsatisfactory campaign so far, having won just five of their first 19 league games. The side sit 17th in the table, just four points above the drop zone.
The Brewers have struggled for form in recent weeks, having failed to score in their last four league games, which included a heavy 4-0 loss away to Peterborough United.
Three days after that defeat, Burton hosted Promotion hopefuls, Portsmouth, and suffered a 2-0 defeat, as well as losing Steve Seddon to a second yellow card. The former Boro left-back will be unavailable for selection this weekend.
On Saturday, Dino Maamria’s side will be searching for their first league win and first league goal since October. Their top scorer, Joe Powell, has a goal tally of just four.
The Manager
Current Burton Albion boss, Dino Maamria, will be a well-known name to Stevenage supporters. As a player, the Tunisian forward made 108 appearances in a Boro shirt, scoring 38 goals. He then returned as a coach under Graham Westley in the memorable back-to-back promotion era, which saw the club win the Conference and the League Two play-off final in consecutive seasons.
In March 2018, Maamria returned once again, but this time as first-team manager. His first full season in charge consisted of a late play-off push, but in the September of the following campaign, he was relieved of his duties.
Head-to-Head
Boro and The Brewers have been rather familiar with each other over the years but haven’t met for almost nine years. From 21 previous encounters, Stevenage have won 10, Burton have won eight and the sides have drawn three times.
The 2014/15 campaign saw Stevenage’s last trip to Pirelli Stadium as they were held to a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming through own-goals.
During the club’s Conference days, Burton were a regular opponent. Perhaps one of the more memorable ties with the Brewers came in the 2008/09 FA Trophy third round, as Boro won 4-0 at The Lamex Stadium, through goals from David Bridges, Mitchell Cole and Steve Morison. That same FA Trophy campaign ended up being pretty successful.
The Stadium
Pirelli Stadium has been home to Burton Albion since it opened in 2005. The ground has a capacity of 6,912, with a record attendance of 6,746 being set in a clash with Derby County. The East Stand terrace typically houses travelling supporters.
Officials
Ben Atkinson has been appointed Match Referee for Saturday’s game, with Danny Gratton and Marvyn Amphlett as Assistants, and Cristopher Husband as Fourth Official. Atkinson has dished out 71 yellow cards and five reds in 15 games this season.