Burton Albion welcome Port Vale to Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, with both sides in real danger of relegation as we head into the business end of the season.
The visitors find themselves second from bottom in the League One table, six points shy of the hosts, who sit four points outside the drop zone.
This is a genuine relegation six-pointer, with both teams desperately needing a win. Keep reading to discover what Forebet’s AI algorithm predicts.
Defeat.#BAFC pic.twitter.com/9iU59juWg1— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) March 16, 2024
Defeat.#BAFC pic.twitter.com/9iU59juWg1
Burton Albion suffered a 1-0 defeat to Exter City last weekend, despite playing the entirety of the second half against 10 men following Zak Jukles’ red card.
Not only have Burton lost each of their last three matches, but they have also lost five of their previous six, with only two victories coming in their past 10 outings.
To make matters worse for Martin Paterson’s men, trends show that Burton are currently enduring a four-game losing run at Pirelli Stadium.
Having lost six of their last 10 home league games, the Brewers must turn things around quickly if they are to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Port Vale were defeated 2-0 by Oxford United last time out, failing to register a single attempt on target in their own backyard.
Remarkably, Port Vale’s winless run now stands at 14 games in League One, with their last victory coming all the way back on December 29.
It is also worth noting that Darren Moore’s men have managed to win just one of their previous 14 away league outings, losing five of their last six.
The Valiants’ defensive stats are also a cause for concern, as only bottom club Carlisle United have conceded more goals than Port Vale’s 61 this season.
Head-to-head: Burton and Port Vale faced each other four times in 2023 – twice in the league and twice in the FA Cup – with the Valiants winning on just one occasion.
Across all competitions, however, both sides have won five of the past 11 meetings, playing out a solitary draw in this fixture since 2013.
Team news: Mark Helm and Joe Powell are Burton’s danger men. Helm has bagged five goals and three assists this season, while Powell has notched four goals and four assists.
As for Port Vale, Ben Garrity has racked up 12 goals and three assists, while Ethan Chislett has contributed nine goals and eight assists.
With a great deal on the line this weekend, Saturday’s showdown is destined to be a close-fought battle between two desperate teams.
Forebet predicts that both teams will find the back of the net at Pirelli Stadium. However, the hosts are expected to outscore the visitors.