In a pivotal clash at the bottom of the table, Burton Albion will hope to keep themselves from being cut adrift when they host Crawley Town at Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday in their 12th League One game of the season.
The hosts are last in 24th place with just four points and are four points from second last Shrewsbury Town, while the visitors are third last in 22nd place with 10 points after 13 matchweeks and lost 3-0 on October 26 against Northampton Town in their last league outing.
Match preview
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Burton lost 1-0 against Cambridge United in the league last Saturday, a match in which they produced 15 shots compared to Cambridge's 13 but were unable to create good opportunities in front of goal.
Jordan Cousins scored an 84th-minute winner and condemned Tuesday's hosts to their eighth defeat of the League One season.
Interim head coach Tom Hounsell, who took charge after Mark Robinson was sacked following his side's 3-2 loss against Wycombe Wanderers on October 22, said that he thought his players put in a phenomenal effort against Cambridge.
The Brewers have a game in hand on 20th-placed Leyton Orient, who occupy the division's final safety spot, but they are already seven points adrift and have not won a single game in the league this term.
Hounsell's side beat Scarborough Athletic 1-0 on Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup, but they lost the prior eight matches and have lost nine and drawn four of their most recent 13 games in League One.
The hosts have also lost four of their last five home games in the league and have lost 12, drawn one and won just one of their last 14 league fixtures at Pirelli Stadium.
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Meanwhile, the visitors have also changed managers after Scott Lindsey departed to join MK Dons in late September, with Robert Elliot appointed as his replacement on October 1.
Crawley had lost six of their seven matches prior to Elliot's first game in charge, but the Red Devils lost their next four fixtures.
To Elliot's credit, his side have won two of their last three games, including a 2-1 victory against Maidenhead United in the FA Cup on Saturday and a 3-0 win against fifth-placed Lincoln City in League One on October 22.
Crawley come into the clash having conceded 17 times in their last six games, scoring on 12 occasions in that period.
The away team's win in the FA Cup was their first victory on the road in their last seven attempts, with Elliot's side losing six games in that time.
Team News
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The hosts will be without striker Ronnie Stutter until December, while forward Julian Larsson will also miss out.
Harry Isted could start in goal, and he may be shielded by centre-backs Nicholas Akoto, Ryan Sweeney and Terence Vancooten.
Elliot Watt will likely start in midfield behind attackers Charlie Webster, Jack Cooper-Love and Mason Bennett.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be unable to select wing-back Josh Flint, who was substituted against Northampton as a result of injury.
Charlie Barker, Jay Williams and Toby Mullarkey could start as centre-backs for Crawley, while Harry Forster and Sam Hoskins are candidates to feature as wing-backs.
Teenager Jasper Sheik could start between the posts considering goalkeeper Joseph Wollacott was taken off due to injury against Northampton.
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Isted; Akoto, Sweeney, Vancooten; Whitfield, Watt, Bran, Williams; Webster; Cooper-Love, Bennett
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Sheik; Forster, Barker, Williams, Mullarkey, Hoskins; Ibrahim, Williams, Anderson; Swan, Darcy
We say: Burton Albion 1-2 Crawley Town
Though both sides have struggled this season, Crawley are in somewhat better form of late and should head into Tuesday's clash with a degree of confidence.
It would not be surprising if Burton conceded first, and while they may have moments of good attacking play, it is difficult to see them claiming all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
