Burton Albion Football Club

BURTON Albion will make one of the longest trips of the season on Saturday when they head south to take on second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Brewers will travel almost 200 miles down to the south coast to the AMEX Stadium to play their second ever league game against The Seagulls.

Nigel Clough has praised the club and picked out the key players who are likely to cause problems on Saturday.

He said: “They have invested well and recruited well. Knockaert - he provides that spark, something special and Murray always gets goals as well.

“We know Jamie Murphy well from our time at Sheffield United. They are not just relying on one there are four or five who can give them that spark.”

Chris Hughton’s men are in a patchy bit of form at the moment drawing and losing their last two league matches as well as crashing out of the F.A. Cup to non-league Lincoln City.

Despite their dip in form they are still only one point behind Newcastle who top the championship
 
The two sides met back in September where Tomer Hemed scored an 88th-minute penalty to pinch all three points from Nigel Clough’s men. Burton Albion were without some of their key players for that game, including Chris O’Grady who was ineligible to face his parent club.
 
Ben Fox made his league debut that day whilst youngster Joe Sbarra was named on the bench.

After a tough start to the year, two wins in the last three matches have boosted Burton’s survival hopes. The last minute victory over Wolves in the previous match carried extra importance as other teams in the relegation dogfight also picked up precious points. 

Defender Tom Flanagan can’t wait for Saturday’s fixture.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know whether it’s a good or bad thing they have had a little dip in form.

“We will go there and, without sounding bad, we won’t pay them much respect even taking into account where they are in the league because you can go and see the nice stadium and quality players and treat it like an FA Cup tie. But we are all playing in the same league for the same reason and anyone can be beaten.

“We won’t go there and play ten at the back anything stupid like that. We will go there and give as good as we get.”

Stephen Martin will be the man with the cards at the AMEX on Saturday. The Staffordshire-based referee has officiated Burton Albion once this season, and that was in the 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
 
Mr Martin has given an average of 2.5 yellow cards per game this season, and just two red cards which both came in the same game.
 
There will be no ticket sales on the day at the AMEX Stadium, so fans have until 4.30PM today to purchase their tickets.
 
Away fans are situated in the South Stand at the Amex Stadium and the prices are as follows:
Adults - £30.00
Under-21s/Over-65s - £22.00
Under-18s - £15.00
Under-10s - £8.00
 
Away travel departs the Pirelli Stadium at 8.30am – price per seat is £19.00
Return time – approximately 9pm