MATCH PREVIEW: BURTON ALBION vs CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff City travel to Burton Albion on Saturday for the Bluebirds' first ever league meeting with the Brewers...

THE OPPOSITION

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Burton welcome City to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday without a win in their last five Championship games. Their most recent victory came over Derby County towards the end of August when an early Jackson Irvine goal was enough to seal a 1-0 win.

The Brewers were also at home on Tuesday night and earned a point from their match with QPR. Jamie Ward headed Albion in front in the second half but Rangers’ Sebastien Polter netted shortly after to ensure the spoils were shared.

The Bluebirds will need to be wary of Irvine’s qualities in the Burton midfield. The Australian signed for the Brewers in the summer and already has four Championship goals to his name. Burton’s defenders are also chipping in with goals and centre back Tom Naylor has led the way, netting three times.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

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Ben Turner moved to the Pirelli Stadium in the summer and has made eight appearances for the Brewers to date. A fan-favourite and well respected member of the Bluebirds' dressing room, Big Ben made over 120 appearances for City, famously scoring that 118th minute equaliser against Liverpool in the 2012 Carling Cup Final.

John Brayford - on loan at Burton from Sheffield United - has been a mainstay for the Brewers at the back. The defender made twenty-six appearances for the Bluebirds having signed from Derby in 2013. Brayford will not face his former team on the weekend, however, as he is currently sidelined with a groin injury.

Meanwhile, Former City 'keeper Stephen Bywater is currently on Burton’s books but is yet to feature for the club in the league.

MEMORABLE MEETING

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There has only been one previous meeting between the two sides and that took place in the first round of the League Cup in 2010. The game was tightly fought in ninety minutes but the Bluebirds ran away with it in extra time, winning 4-1.

City opened the scoring in the seventeenth minute when Peter Whittingham sent in a dangerous cross from the left hand side that that was turned in by Jay Bothroyd from close range. The home side were not ahead for long, however as Burton responded almost immediately through Shaun Harrad. The striker pounced on a mistake by defender Anthony Gerrard to equalise for the Brewers.

The Bluebirds were too strong for the Brewers after extra time and two quick-fire Ross McCormack goals put City in the driving seat. Michael Chopra rounded off the scoring when he turned home a clever Jason Koumas pass to make the score 4-1 and see his team safely through to the second round. 

AWAY DAY FACTS

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-    The Brewers were founded in 1950 and achieved Football League Status in 2009
-    Albion play at the Pirelli Stadium which has been the club’s home since 2005, following their move from Eton Park.
-    Manager Nigel Clough is in his second spell with Burton having previously been in charge of the team from 1998-2009.
-    The club achieved promotion from League One last season thanks to finishing in second position, 2 points behind champions Wigan Athletic.