A first ever meeting with Burton Albion

Last updated : 29 January 2011 By Tony Scholes

Being drawn at home is something of a surprise given recent seasons, and being drawn at home in successive rounds hasn't happened since 2005 when we had three successive home draws against Liverpool, Bournemouth and Blackburn.

Yes, our last home game in this round was the Bournemouth tie and we had no idea then just how many connections their team that day would have with Burnley. Wade Elliott, John Spicer and Garreth O'Connor all played; and I don't think Mo Camara has recovered from facing Wade that day.

If you look at their team there was also a certain Eddie Howe on the bench although he wasn't used by then manager Sean O'Driscoll.

Now Howe will be very much involved today as he takes his place as Burnley manager for the first time in a home game and will be hoping for a win to start his home career and see Burnley into the fifth round.

If we make it, it will be the fifth time in nine years, but also just the fifth time in the last 29 years. We've got a good chance to get there and we need to take it.

Our Opponents


Burton, the Brewers, are enjoying their second season as a Football League club. They progressed in non-league through seven years in the Conference with now Derby manager Nigel Clough in charge and he left just a few months before they finally reached the Football League.

Roy McFarland took over for the remainder of the 2008/09 season before handing over to current boss Mr Karren Brady who saw them into a thirteenth place finish last season.

They are currently in 20th place but in fairness that's a false position caused by them not having played a league game since 3rd January and only three league games since November.

Their last outing was three weeks ago in the FA Cup when two goals from Shaun Harrad, their leading scorer, in the last eight minutes saw them beat Middlesbrough at the Pirelli Stadium. It proved to be Harrad's last game for them; he signed for Northampton Town nine days ago.

Burton moved quickly to fill the gap with the loan signing of Crewe's Calvin Zola who, because of the postponement again last week, is still to make his debut.

Click HERE to see Burton's results this season


Team News


Burton will almost certainly bring Calvin Zola in for the departed Shaun Harrad and they will include a couple of players well known to Burnley fans in Darren Moore and Adam Bolder, both former team mates of the manager as well as Paul Boertien and Bryan Hughes who were both on the bench in the last round.

Other than Zola for Harrad it could be the side that played against Middlesbrough and if so they will line up: Adam Legzdins, Ryan Austin, Nathan Stanton, Darren Moore, Scott Malone, Adam Bolder, John McGrath, Jacques Maghoma, Russell Penn, Aaron Webster, Calvin Zola. Subs: Kevin Poole, Paul Boertien, Tony James, Jimmy Phillips, Greg Pearson, Lewis Young, Bryan Hughes.

Click HERE to see the full Burton squad


Eddie Howe has pledged to field a strong side and by that I would expect minimal changes, if any, from the side that beat Portsmouth on Tuesday. He admitted that he might have to change one or two as he keeps people fresh, particularly with the game at Doncaster on Tuesday.

New signing Charlie Austin is cup tied having played in the first and second rounds for Swindon so he'll be in the stands watching, making his way onto the pitch to be introduced to the fans at half time.

Chris Iwelumo was in talks with Preston yesterday. Suggestions that the deal is off are definitely premature and it would be no surprise if he wasn't involved today. There could, however, be a boost with the return of Martin Paterson who has been out since early November with a thigh injury. Suggestions were that he could be ready today.

If he opts to start with the same team, and if Pato comes onto the bench for Big Chris, the team will be: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Steven Thompson, Jay Rodriguez. Subs: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Andre Bikey, Brian Easton, Graham Alexander, Ross Wallace, Martin Paterson.

Last Time We Met

This week we've no previous games to look back on.