Burton Albion travel to Highbury Stadium to take on Fleetwood Town this Saturday, knowing that three points could be enough to escape the relegation zone.
The Brewers are 22nd in the table, inside the bottom four on goal difference, while the Cods are faring slightly better up in 17th, but they are only four points clear of the relegation places.
Match preview
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Fleetwood only narrowly avoided relegation last season, staying up in League One on the final day of the campaign, and they are looking as though they will once again be in a battle for survival.
As mentioned, the Fishermen are four points clear of the drop, but they have also played two games more than 21st-placed Accrington Stanley, so a defeat on Saturday could mean they are put in a perilous position.
Scott Brown's side actually pose a very good defensive record, conceding just 30 goals in their 27 matches up to this point, the joint-fewest of any side outside the top eight, but losing games narrowly is a real issue for them.
Of the 10 games that Fleetwood have lost in League One this season, nine have been by just a one-goal margin, indicating that they never really get outplayed in games, but they just cannot seem to get over the line.
Last time out, the Cods picked up a draw away at second-placed Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, bringing to an end a three-game losing run in competitive competition, with the game finishing 1-1 after Promise Omochere had initially opened the scoring.
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Burton had a torrid start to the season, failing to win in their first seven games in all competitions, but they have been much improved ever since Dino Maamria replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the dugout.
Over a 20-game period, the Brewers have picked up 24 points, and maintaining that form would likely be more than enough to steer them clear of the relegation zone by the end of the season.
In their last five league matches, Maamria's side have picked up nine points, securing a crucial 2-1 win away against bottom-of-the-table Forest Green Rovers, although the manager will still be concerned about some of the recent performances.
The Brewers lost 5-0 away at Morecambe on New Year's Day, another team that are in the relegation mix, while their defensive issues were also on show in a 4-0 home defeat to Shrewsbury Town, and they now have the second-worst defensive record in the league.
Maamria would have wanted a response from his team last time out, and he got exactly that, with Burton running out 2-0 winners against Oxford United courtesy of an own goal from Simon Eastwood and a second-half Dale Taylor effort, in a much-improved defensive display.
Team News
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Fleetwood are still missing top scorer Carlos Mendes Gomes, who has not been included in the squad for the last three matches, so Omechere is likely to keep his place at left-wing, having scored in the last match.
Lewis Warrington was benched by Brown for the last match, but the central midfielder had started the previous 14 games in all competitions, and so he is expected to be brought back in, playing alongside Josh Vela.
Striker Admiral Muskwe was also dropped for the FA Cup clash against Sheffield Wednesday, but he could be set to come back in, with Cian Hayes failing to get on the scoresheet.
Craig MacGillivray replaced Jordan Amissah between the sticks for the 2-0 victory against Oxford, and after his solid performance, it is likely that he will start in goal for Burton Albion.
Victor Adeboyejo completed a move to Bolton Wanderers late in the January transfer window, having scored 11 league goals in 26 games, and he will be a huge miss for the Brewers in the second half of the season.
In the striker's absence, Taylor is set to make just his second start for Burton, with the 19-year-old scoring on his league debut last weekend.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Nsiala, Earl, Andrew; Warrington, Vela, Robertson, Lane, Omochere; Muskwe
Burton Albion possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Hughes, Brayford, Moon; Hamer, Oshilaja, Taylor, Ashworth; Smith, Helm, Taylor
We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Burton Albion
Games involving Fleetwood Town always seem to be tight affairs, and that is why we expect them to play out a draw against Burton Albion on Saturday.
The Brewers were very impressive in their victory against Oxford United last time out, but the sides are very evenly-matched, and it is unlikely either team runs away with it.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
