Preview: Peterborough United vs. Burton Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Peterborough United will be aiming to continue their strong run of form in League One when they welcome Burton Albion to London Road on Saturday afternoon.

The home side are currently fifth in the table, boasting 31 points from their opening 17 matches, while Burton occupy 13th, having picked up 20 points from their first 17 games of the season.

Match preview

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Peterborough have played twice since their last league match on November 11, which proved to be a 5-0 home success over Cambridge United.

Indeed, Darren Ferguson's side beat Salford City on penalties following a 4-4 draw in a pulsating FA Cup first-round replay on November 14, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Colchester United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, but they had already booked their spot in the next round.

Peterborough have actually been victorious in three of their last four league matches, while they have lost just once - away to Wigan Athletic earlier this month - since the start of September.

The Posh were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2021-22 campaign and then finished sixth in League One last season, losing an incredible playoff semi-final to Sheffield Wednesday, who went on to beat Barnsley in the final at the end of May.

Peterborough thumped Burton 5-2 when the two sides last locked horns in March, but the reverse fixture at London Road during the 2022-23 campaign finished in a 1-1 draw.

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Burton were also in EFL Trophy action on Tuesday, recording a 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town, which secured their spot in the second round of the competition.

Dino Maamria's side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Port Vale in the FA Cup on November 14, though, and they are winless in their last three in League One, including a 2-0 loss to Northampton Town last time out.

Burton have won five, drawn five and lost seven of their 17 league matches this season to collect 20 points, which has left them in 13th position in the third tier of English football.

Brewers have found it difficult to hit the back of the net this season, only managing 16 in their 17 matches, but they have been relatively strong defensively, conceding 21 times.

Maamria's team finished 15th in League One last season, and they have been absent from the Championship since being relegated at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

Team News

Peterborough boss Ferguson could name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Cambridge in the team's last League One fixture on November 11.

As expected, a number of squad players and youngsters were involved against Colchester in the EFL Trophy earlier this week, but the big-hitters will be back for this contest.

Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark have both scored six times in the league during the 2023-24 campaign, and the pair will again feature in attacking areas for the hosts this weekend.

As for Burton, Joe Powell is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with four, and the 25-year-old will again feature in a midfield area on Saturday.

Beryly Lubala has scored three times in League One this term, meanwhile, and the summer arrival should feature as the centre-forward against Peterborough.

Head coach Maamria actually named a relatively strong XI in the EFL Trophy earlier this week, so there will only be minor changes to the starting team in this contest.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bilokapic; Kioso, Knight, Edwards, Burrows; Kyprianou, Collins; Poku, Randall, Mason-Clark; Jones

Burton Albion possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Hamer, Moon, Sweeney, Seddon; Walker, Oshilaja, Powell, Helm, Carayol; Lubala

We say: Peterborough United 2-1 Burton Albion

Burton are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable match for Peterborough despite their recent problems, and we are expecting a close game in terms of the scoreline. Peterborough have been in strong form in the league, though, and we are backing them to emerge victorious here.

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