Next Up: Burton Albion Away

After a comprehensive derby defeat, it’s probably best not to have too long to dwell on things and have another match to concentrate on instead. On the other hand, Tuesday night sees City’s difficult-looking start to the season continue with a visit to another promotion favourite in Burton. Paul Tisdale may opt to shuffle his pack, Matt Oakley possibly set to step aside if Tisdale considers three games in a week to be too much for the veteran midfielder. If Oakley is rested, Danny Butterfield may come in to play the anchor role with David Wheeler in the wing-back role. Graham Cummins made an encouraging debut from the bench and the new 1931 player may be given a start as a result, while Arron Davies is another option. 

Having missed out on promotion via a playoff exit the last two seasons, Gary Rowett is aiming to make it third time lucky this season, and his side has responded with victories in both their fixtures so far, sandwiching an impressive 2-1 win in the Capital One Cup over Championship high-fliers Wigan. Rowett has a lot of striking options at his disposal with a couple of one-time City targets in Stuart Beavon and Billy Kee already in amongst the goals, while Lucas Akins is also likely to start, while Adam McGurk missed Saturday’s comeback win over Dagenham & Redbridge having limped off early against Wigan. John Mousinho is one to watch from midfield, the ex-Stevenage and Preston player having signed for the Brewers in the summer.

Last season saw Burton take four points off City, emerging with a last-gasp 1-0 win at the Park (Edwards) with the return at the Pirelli Stadium finishing 1-1 (an Own Goal from Ian Sharps immediately cancelled out by McGurk). City’s only victory away to Burton was a 4-3 win at former venue Eton Park in the first meeting between the sides in 2003, and it’s the Brewers who hold the overall head-to-head lead with 7 victories to City’s 5 (2 draws).

Match Officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2014/08/18/match-officials-burton-albion-away-3/