This Week's Opposition: Burton Albion

Photo Credit: Burton Albion

After a 4-0 defeat on home soil against Blackpool, the Blues’ unbeaten league streak of 27 games comes to an end. With 6 yellow cards and 2 given to captain Joe Morrell, leading to a sending off in the 64 minute, Pompey ended up defeated and down to 10 men on Saturday.

Now John Mousinho needs to pick the team back up as they head on the road this week for 2 consecutive away matches, their first stop is the Pirelli Stadium.

Now let's look closer at the next team Portsmouth face…. Burton Albion.

MANAGER

Dino Maamria is at the helm for The Brewers.

The former Tunisian striker and manager started his senior playing career with AS Marsa of Tunisia in 1992. Maamria made the move to England to start his English career with Burnley in 1996, however he failed to make a first team appearance after suffering a broken leg.

Maamria also played for the likes of Glentoran, Doncaster Rovers, Southport, Rushden & Diamonds and Northwich Victoria. Overall in his playing career he made 314 appearances across all competitions and scored 97 goals.

His first experience in coaching came at Burnley in the summer of 1997 where he worked as an academy coach. Towards the end of his playing for Northwich Victoria he was made caretaker manager in October 2007. Later that year he was confirmed as the club’s permanent manager. In his time at the club, Maamria had secured the administration-stricken side another year in the Conference Premier. 

After being sacked in 2008 he went on to manage Southport, where he secured 8 wins out of their next 10 matches leaving the club 17th in the National League after just 5 months in charge.

In January 2021, following spells to forget in the dugout at Nuneaton, Stevenage and Oldham, the now 49-year-old was appointed as assistant manager to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink here at Burton.

The pair oversaw a positive start, earning 9 league victories in their first 12 matches, including a 6 game winning streak.

Following Hasselbaink’s resignation in September 2022, Maamria was placed in temporary charge of first team matters - Later keeping the role in a permanent basis.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch this time around is forward Josh Walker, who wears the number 14 shirt for The Brewers.

Walker started his youth career at Tottenham Hotspur before making the move to Fulham. He then spent time in non-league with Wealdstone, Hendon and Barnet.

He then moved to Dagenham & Redbridge for the 2021/22 campaign, where across 2 seasons at the club he made 60 appearances, scoring 23 goals.

Walker was Burton’s final signing of the January transfer window earlier this year - The pacey frontman has contributed to 1 goal so far this season.

TOP SCORER

Joe Powell is The Brewers’ current top goalscorer.

Powell started his youth career at West Ham United at the age of 8 and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2015.

He made his first team debut in an 8-0 victory in the Carabao Cup against Macclesfield Town and went on to join Northampton Town on loan until the end of the 2018/19 season.

The midfielder has scored 4 goals this season and wears the number 7 shirt for Burton Albion, who initially secured his services on a 2-and-a-half year deal in January 2020.

A new 2-year contract extension was agreed last July.

CURRENT FORM

Burton currently sit in 17th place on 20 points, 15 places and 16 points behind the Blues in 2nd.

A 7-0 victory over Exeter City saw Bolton Wanderers go to top of the league and Pompey drop down to 2nd position on Saturday, after suffering a first league defeat since March the 11th.

The Brewers’ last 5 games have seen an accumulation of 1 win, 3 defeats and 1 draw.

Their most recent league victory was back in October against Bristol Rovers - That one ended 4-1. The Brewers’ most recent game ended in a 4-0 loss away at Peterborough on Saturday.

Burton finished last season in 15th position and have now entered their 6th consecutive season in League One.

Can the Blues get back to winning ways and pick up 3 points under the lights of the Pirelli Stadium?

Pompey Live returns with all of the unmissable action of Burton Albion vs Portsmouth on Tuesday evening (November 28th) from 7pm.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!

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