In a pivotal match for both League One's race for promotion and relegation battle, Burton Albion are set to host Bolton Wanderers at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.
The Brewers will be hoping to bounce back from their loss last time out, while the Trotters could make it six league games without defeat this weekend.
Match preview
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Gary Bowyer's relegation-threatened Burton have significantly improved since the turn of the year, winning five, drawing five and losing just three of their third tier matches in 2025.
That form means that the Brewers have earned 20 of their 33-point total across their last 13 fixtures, and they are now 21st in the table, just three points behind Bristol Rovers, who are the first team safe from the drop.
Most recently, Bowyer's side were beaten 2-0 on the road by Wycombe Wanderers, and even though the result was likely what the manager expected, the boss will be disappointed to have conceded another own goal from Jack Armer.
At the Pirelli Stadium, the hosts have only lost once this year, and they will draw confidence from the fact that they are currently on a four-game unbeaten streak on their own turf, having drawn two and won two since late January.
A win on Saturday could lift Burton out of the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere, and with safety looking closer than ever, the Brewers will be particularly motivated to put in a strong performance.
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Meanwhile, Steven Schumacher's Bolton have won four, drawn one and lost one league match since his appointment at the end of January.
Last time out, the Trotters came from behind to end top-of-the-table Birmingham City's 18-game unbeaten run in the third tier, with John McAtee scoring his fourth goal in four matches, skipper George Thomason putting his side in front, and top scorer Aaron Collins capping off a fine 3-1 win with his 16th goal of the season.
That victory has left Schumacher's men seventh in the table, and the promotion hopefuls are now just one point behind sixth-placed Huddersfield Town and two behind fifth-placed Charlton Athletic in the playoff spots.
That being said, the visitors have been in mixed form away from the Toughsheet Community Stadium, having registered three wins from their seven League One away matches in 2025, and with so much at stake for both teams this weekend, they will have to be at their best to take all three points against Burton.
Bolton won 2-1 in the reverse fixture back in October, and if they can repeat that result on Saturday, they could climb as high as fifth in the table, though defeat could see the gap to the playoffs extend to a more problematic four points.
Team News
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Having scored own goals in back-to-back matches, Burton's backline of Udoka Godwin-Malife, Ryan Sweeney and Jack Armer will be hoping to tighten up this weekend.
Further forward, Bowyer will turn to strikers Mason Bennett and Julian Larsson to fire the side out of the relegation zone, and the duo will be supported by wing-backs Kyran Lofthouse and Owen Dodgson.
As for Bolton, John McAtee and Carlos Mendes Gomes will be supporting striker Aaron Collins from their attacking midfield positions, while Josh Dacres-Cogley and Jordi Osei-Tutu provide width.
In the middle third, captain - and goalscorer last time out - George Thomason should be partnered by Aaron Morley once again.
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
Crocombe; Godwin-Malife, Sweeney, Armer; Lofthouse, Webster, Forde, McKiernan, Dodgson; Bennett, Larsson
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Toal, Forino, Johnston; Dacre-Cogley, Morley, Thomason, Osei-Tutu; McAtee, Gomes; Collins
We say: Burton Albion 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Both sides have been in improved form in recent weeks and will be motivated by ambitions that are within reach this weekend.
However, with so much at stake, and Bolton's mixed form on the road, this match could end in a stalemate after a hard-fought 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
