Preview: Burton Albion vs Mansfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Burton Albion's first match of the 2025-26 League One season will come against visitors Mansfield Town on Saturday at Pirelli Stadium.

The two sides finished 20th with 47 points and 17th with 54 points respectively in 2024-25 and only narrowly avoided being relegated from the division given the final relegation spot was taken by 21st-placed Crawley Town, who ended the season with 46 points.

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Match preview

Burton only secured their safety in their penultimate match of their last League One season, drawing 1-1 with Wigan Athletic on April 29, though their superior goal difference compared to Crawley would have likely been enough for survival.

Supporters will hope that the club can avoid a relegation battle in 2024-25 given they have now finished 20th for two conseciutive campaigns, while finishing no higher than 15th in their prior three seasons.

Brewers' return of 49 goals was the joint fourth best tally of the teams in the bottom 11, and their total of 66 goals conceded was in fact the joint fewest in the bottom eight.

Head coach Gary Bowyer has overseen a strong pre-season campaign, guiding his side to three victories in their past four friendlies.

Burton also won three of their last five games at home in League One while only losing once, though their overall return of 24 points at Pirelli Stadium was the third worst of the 24 teams in the division.

Mansfield's 2024-25 was undoubtedly a successful one considering they managed to secure survival in their first season back in the third tier since 2002-03.

Boss Nigel Clough's side netted an impressive 60 times in League One, the second best figure in the bottom 12 and just seven fewer than second-placed Wrexham.

The Stags held Saturday's hosts to two stalemates in third tier last term, drawing 1-1 on March 1 and 3-3 in August 2024.

Though Mansfield won their first three friendly fixtures, they have since lost once and drawn twice, but they did win their last two competitive matches by a cumulative score of 7-2.

The visitors have struggled on the road, with the team only achieving one victory in their final 11 fixtures away from home last season, losing on six occasions.

Burton Albion pre-season form:

Mansfield Town pre-season form:

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Team News

If Burton use a front three on Saturday, then fans will likely see wingers Charlie Webster and Fabio Tavares support Jake Beesley.

Defensive midfielder John Joshua McΚiernan is set to appear next to number eights Kgagelo Chauke and Dylan Williams.

Centre-backs Udoka Godwin-Malife and Toby Sibbick could be tasked with protecting shot-stopper Jordan Amissah.

Meanwhile, Mansfield have often utilised a back three, so expect Jordan Bowery to be joined by Frazer Blake-Tracy and Baily Cargill.

Will Evans and Dom Dwyer could start in a front two ahead of midfielders George Maris, Aaron Lewis and Joe Gardner.

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Amissah; Moon, Godwin-Malife, Sibbick, Vancooten; Chauke, McΚiernan, Williams; Webster, Beesley, Tavares

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Mason; Bowery, Blake-Tracy, Cargill; Hewitt, Maris, Lewis, Gardner, Baccus; Evans, Dwyer

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We say: Burton Albion 2-2 Mansfield Town

 

Burton found Mansfield to be challenging opponents last term, and the visitors' goalscoring prowess could help them create a number of chances.

However, the hosts will still be confident of taking at least a point from Saturday's clash given the away side have at times struggled on the road.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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