OUR FA Cup First Round replay with Salford City will be played this coming Tuesday, November 19, with a kick-off of 7.45pm at the Pirelli Stadium.
The club had flagged up the potential issue of a replay date with the FA prior to our 1-1 draw at the Peninsula Stadium, with the Brewers having three first-team players on international duty over the next week.
Sunderland, also having several call-ups and due to play Gillingham in a Cup replay of their own, had agreed to move our league fixture at the Stadium of Light to a date in December to enable both clubs’ FA Cup replays to be played on Tuesday, November 26.
An official request was made therefore to play the Salford game after the international break on the 26th, with three of the clubs involved agreeing to the change, and the matter was referred to the Professional Game Board.
However, confirmation came through at 5.30pm today of the ruling that the game be played on the 19th.
Manager Nigel Clough said: "It was known before a ball was kicked this season that the replay date for the first round would fall in an international date but nothing was put in place to deal with this eventuality, leaving teams like us to play without our best players.
“Invariably, your best players are the ones called up on international duty. We find the whole thing bizarre.
“We feel sorry for the supporters, who we now have to ask to pay to come and watch our replay, missing our best international players.”
Tickets will go on sale as soon as possible - please keep an eye on burtonalbionfc.co.uk and the official club channels for full ticket details and an on-sale date and time.