Burton Albion visit The Memorial Stadium on Saturday for their 17th league meeting against Bristol Rovers.
Of the previous 16 meetings, The Brewers have come out on top with eight wins to their name, Rovers have won five and there’s been three draws. Rovers have scored more goals in those games, 25 to Burton’s 19.
The first league meetings between the sides took place as recently as the 2011/12 season and on 22nd October 2011 Burton ran out 2-1 winners at The Pirelli
Stadium. Rovers avenged that defeat in style in the return fixture at The Mem, in April 2012, when an Eliot Richards hat trick and further goals from Matt Harrold (2), Mustapha Carayol and Jim Paterson saw Rovers to a 7-1 victory. Calvin Zola scored for The Brewers.
Burton did the double over Rovers last season, winning 4-1 at The Pirelli Stadium and 2-1 at The Memorial Stadium, while in this season’s encounter, on 5th October 2024, Rovers won 3-1. After Danilo Orsi had given Burton a first half lead Rovers hit back with second half goals by Shaq Forde, Grant Ward and Gatlin O’Donkor.
Among the players who have turned out for both clubs are; Victor Adeboyejo, Craig Armstrong, Guy Branston, Ryan Broom, Mustapha Carayol, Seanan Clucas, Paul Hendrie, Rene Howe, Matt Lund, John-Joe O’Toole, Tom Parkes, Justin Richards, Ryan Sweeney, Gary Twigg, Richard Walker and Ian Wright.
O’Toole was red carded when playing for Rovers against Burton in 2013/14 and later spent two years playing for The Brewers, while current skipper Sweeney is still playing for Burton and was their Player of the Year in 2023/24.
Players to have made their Rovers league debut against Burton are; Oumare Tounkara, Erhun Oztumer, Ali Koiki, Lewis Gordon, Jerry Lawrence and Calum Macdonald.
Manager Gary Bowyer signed six players in the January transfer window and the club has eight players out on loan, including former Rovers favourite Billy Bodin who is with Reading.
For the second successive season, Burton have had three managers. In 2023/24 they were Noureddine Maamria, Gary Mills and Martin Paterson, while this time around it’s been Mark Robinson, Tom Hounsell and Bowyer.
Last Saturday Burton drew 1-1 against Blackpool at The Pirelli Stadium and re currently inbeaten in their last six games, three of which have been drawn. They are currently in 23rd place with 26 points from their 30 games.
Rovers’ 1-1 draw against Stockport on Tuesday evening leaves them in 19th place with 32 points from 29 games.
Shaq Forde of Bristol Rovers celebrates scoring to make it 1-1 as Burton Albion play Bristol Rovers in a Sky Bet League One fixture on October 05 2024, at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton, England. (Photo by Will Cooper/Bristol Rovers)
Having taken seven points from their last three home games, it’s important that Rovers build on that against one of the sides below them in the table. Home form will be a crucial factor as we attempt to climb towards mid table and it’s vital that we don’t lose games to the teams around us.
Inigo Calderon’s team selection will be an interesting one, given the crucial cameo roles from Sil Swinkels and Michael Reindorf in midweek and I’m sure they will be hoping they did enough to merit a first start for the club.
Fingers crossed for three points – enjoy the game!