Preview:Derby County vs. Burton Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Burton Albion will make the short trip to Pride Park for Monday's League One clash with promotion-chasing Derby County.

The contest represents Martin Paterson's first game in management following his recent appointment as Burton's new boss.

Match preview

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Derby will return to league action this weekend after suffering a narrow loss in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie against fourth-tier Bradford City.

A second-half effort from Sam Stubbs proved enough to condemn the Rams to a 1-0 defeat, ending their EFL Trophy run at the last-16 stage.

While they would have been disappointed with the midweek result, Paul Warne's side can turn their full focus to their promotion bid, with the Rams sitting in fourth place and three points adrift of the top two.

Derby will certainly fancy their chances of claiming maximum points on Monday, having won nine of their last 11 league matches (D1, L1).

They will also take confidence from their previous meeting with Burton in August when James Collins, Conor Hourihane and Conor Washington all found the net in a 3-0 victory.

Burton, meanwhile, are under new management after Paterson was appointed as Dino Maamria's permanent successor.

Paterson's appointment will see Gary Mills step away from his caretaker role after overseeing the club's last seven matches since Maamria's dismissal.

Mills' final game in the dugout took place on Tuesday when he saw his side fall to a narrow 2-1 away defeat to Blackpool in the last 16 of the EFL Trophy.

Paterson, who has previously worked as an assistant at Swansea City, Barnsley and Inter Miami, takes over a team that currently sit in 19th position and five points above the bottom four.

Having lost five of their last six away league games (D1), the Brewers are looking to claim their first away win in the third tier since beating Lincoln City in the middle of October.

Team News

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Derby are expected to be without the services of Craig Forsyth and Joe Ward due to calf and groin injuries respectively.

The pair are joined on the sidelines by Jake Rooney, Martyn Waghorn, Korey Smith and Washington, while Ryan Nyambe is currently on international duty with Namibia.

Derby also have doubts over the fitness of Kane Wilson, who picked up a hip problem in the midweek defeat to Bradford.

As for the visitors, winger Kwadwo Baah recently returned to Watford after his loan spell was cut short due to injury.

Burton have strengthened their squad with the loan signing of Joe Hugill from Manchester United, and the 20-year-old striker is likely to feature on the bench for Monday's contest.

Defender Sam Hughes is a doubt for the short away trip after he was forced off in the first half of Wednesday's EFL Trophy defeat to Blackpool.

Derby County possible starting lineup:

Vickers; Nelson, Bradley, Cashin; Barkhuizen, Bird, Hourihane, Elder; John-Jules, Mendez-Laing, Collins

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Moon, Brayford, Sweeney; Caprice, Harper Powell, Oshilaja, Seddon; Lubala, Bennett

We say: Derby County 2-0 Burton Albion

Derby cruised to a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture in August, and we think that they will claim another win against Burton to move into the League One promotion places.

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