Burton in the Cup! Preview by Simon Mack

Burton Albion vs Leicester City

Carabao Cup Round of 16

29^th October 2019 19:45

Pirelli Stadium

Following on from a historic victory on the south coast against Southampton the foxes move on to a last 16 Carabao Cup tie against Burton Albion.

It’s been an emotional period for all involved with Leicester City Football Club as the 1^st anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash that tragically took the life of ‘The Boss’ Khun Vichai and 4 others was commemorated yesterday with the opening of a memorial garden at the site of the accident.

City have been inspired by the memory of their respected and loved Chairman, and Friday’s 9-0 record away win was a fitting tribute to the man the players credit for all that city have achieved in recent memory.

As the foxes make the short trip across the midlands to the Pirelli Stadium hosts Burton Albion will be optimistic of a result against their high flying visitors. The Brewers knocked Premier League outfit Bournemouth out of the cup in the last round, and have beaten Wimbledon and MK Dons in their last 4 league games. In addition last season’s Carabao Cup saw Burton reach the semi-finals, and despite a 10-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Premier League winners Manchester City their successful journey to the semis proved their spirit and pedigree in the competition.

Albion’s injury woes have been eased of late with Oliver Sarkic, John Brayford and Stephen Quinn all reporting back for duty over the weekend in their goalless draw at home to Blackpool.

For the foxes there are no significant injury woes for manager Brendan Rodgers but you would expect the Northern Irishman to rotate his pack to a degree but at the same time take the opportunity to reach the ¼ finals of the competition seriously.

James Justin is likely to get another Carabao Cup outing after his cracking display down at former club Luton, and Hamza Choudhury might well get the opportunity to play at a stadium he is very familiar with having spent some time on loan at Burton from the foxes earlier in his career. Marc Albrighton and Demari Gray could also start in the wide berths, and former Liverpool Keeper Danny Ward could get an outing too.

Ticket sales for the home side have been poor and as demand has been high for the match over in Leicester Burton have been giving up large swathes of the Pirelli to the foxes faithful, and this might well feel more like a home tie for the visitors than the hosts.

Where old city faces are concerned Lloyd Dyer at 37 years old now is back on the payroll at the Albion and might get a look in from the bench for the hosts, and if he does he is sure to get a warm reception from the city fans as most remember the blistering pace and never say die attitude of the well-loved winger from his former days at King Power Stadium.

Possible Burton Albion side: O’Hara, Akins, O’Toole, Nartey, Hutchinson, Wallace, Fraser, Edwards, Sarkic, Broadhead, Boyce​

Possible Foxes side: Ward, Fuchs, Morgan, Evans, Justin, Choudhury, Tielemans, Gray, Praet, Albrighton, Perez