This Week's Opposition: Burton Albion

The Blues return to Fratton Park for midweek next, having been defeated by Plymouth Argyle away from home on Saturday. Burton Albion making the journey to the South Coast for this one.

John Mousinho’s first 5 games in charge of Pompey have returned 7 points from a possible 15, including 2 victories, 2 defeats and a stalemate.

He’ll be hoping to secure a 3rd win of his managerial career and a first under the Fratton floodlights - Let’s peer into the side who will be looking to deny the new gaffer of achieving that.

MANAGER

Former Stevenage and Oldham Athletic boss Dino Maamria has remained in charge of The Brewers following the resignation tendered by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink back in September.

In fact, his first game in charge came against Pompey in this season's reverse fixture, which ended in a 2-0 victory for The Blues at the Pirelli Stadium. His temporary appointment was made permanent until the end of the campaign soon after, after a return of 3 wins from 4 in all competitions.

The 48-year-old, who had initially been brought to the club in January 2021 to serve as Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink’s assistant, has won 12 of his 29 games in charge since his departure.

ONE TO WATCH

On-loan winger Charlie Kirk is one to keep an eye on this time around.

The 25-year-old, who has been handed the number 10 shirt, was brought in from Charlton Athletic on Deadline Day and has since made 2 appearances for the club.

Kirk made his debut from the bench in a 3-2 win at Fleetwood on February the 4th, coming on as a substitute late on and scoring a dramatic winner in the 96th minute, having seen the hosts score an equaliser little over 60 seconds before.

He has been with Charlton since signing from Crewe Alexandra in August 2021 but has failed to assert himself as a regular in South London, spending the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool.

TOP SCORER

Burton’s leading scorer, Davis Kiellor-Dunn, is no longer at the club.

The 25-year-old striker, who had bagged 5 league goals for The Brewers during the first half of the campaign, moved to Mansfield Town on a permanent deal on Deadline Day.

He had only been at the club for 6 months, having signed on a 2-year-deal from Oldham Athletic in the summer of 2022.

Defender Tom Hamer is the next player to have scored more league goals for Burton this season - He’s found the back of the net on 3 occasions, most recently in the same match as the aforementioned Charlie Kirk, a 3-2 win at Fleetwood just over a week ago.

CURRENT FORM

Dino Maamria’s side are heading into this midweek clash with Pompey full of confidence, following a return of 9 points from a possible 9 in their last 3 league outings.

That hat-trick of wins over Oxford, Fleetwood and Exeter came off the back of 3 consecutive defeats in all competitions, within such time they were knocked out of The FA Cup by League Two outfit Grimsby.

Overall in the league this season, The Brewers have picked up a total of 31 points from 29 matches, a tally which sees them currently in 18th position and just 3 points above the relegation zone.

Can The Blues return to winning ways and salvage any slim hope of a late Play-Off push?

All of the unmissable action on Pompey Live with Robbie James, Jake Smith and Dean Adams from 7pm on Tuesday evening (February 14th).