Hasselbaink’s Brewers look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season

Burton Albion host play-off hopefuls Ipswich Town at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon, looking for a much needed three points as they sit rock bottom of the League One table.

Albion top scorer Kane Hemmings has eight goals already so far this campaign and can smell blood from an Ipswich side with just two wins from their last five.

It’s manager Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink’s second fixture in charge of Burton, his second stint as the gaffer in Staffordshire. His side have just 16 points in 24th position in League One and have played three more games than 23rd placed Wigan Athletic.

The January transfer window has been nothing short of busy for Albion thus far, bringing in centre-back Hayden Carter from Blackburn’s U23s and central midfielder Sean Clare from fellow League One outfit Oxford United.

✍️ Burton Albion are delighted to confirm the signing of midfielder Sean Clare (@sean8clare) on loan from @OUFCofficial for the rest of the 2020/21 season!

Welcome, Sean! Read from our new signing on the club website.#BAFC

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— Burton Albion FC (@burtonalbionfc) January 12, 2021

Carter’s debut was marked with a goal and a clean sheet in last week’s away win at Gillingham, which was the Gills’ third consecutive loss. Burton haven’t seen the Championship after being relegated in 2018 after two seasons, something that looks very far away as of their current position.

Ipswich full-back Stephen Ward told supporters the “cards are on the table” ahead of their trip to the Pirelli:

“We’re not naive enough to think that the performance was anywhere near the standard that it should be. We’ve had meetings and our cards are on the table. What the manager has asked of us is only what we should be expecting of ourselves. He knows there is quality in the squad and he’s frustrated, like us as players, that we’re not delivering.”

Gaffer Paul Lambert confirmed that Teddy Bishop, Gwion Edwards and Jon Nolan all returned to full training with Town this week, with Flynn Downes and James Norwood also completing another week at Playford Road having made their comebacks against Swindon last weekend.

Saturday’s showdown is Burton’s designated Burton Mind fixture, which helps promote the work done by the EFL’s charity partner Mind Charity. Players will warm up in Mind t-shirts and there will be messages from Mind in the digital programme and on their social media channels. Read more on their website here.