EFL Cup action carries into Wednesday this week as League One side Burton Albion welcome Championship outfit Leicester City to Pirelli Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- Burton Albion are playing in their sixth consecutive season in League One this term
- Leicester City were relegated from the Premier League last season after nine straight campaigns in the top flight
- The visitors have won the EFL Cup on three separate occasions and last did so in 2000
The Brewers began their new campaign with an opening day defeat away to Blackpool, whilst the Foxes recorded a victory over Coventry City as they begin life back in the second tier under Enzo Maresca.
Burton Albion Form
The hosts suffered a loss in their first match of 2023/24 season as they were defeated 2-0 away to Blackpool. A first half brace from Shayne Lavery handed the Tangerines all three points as Dino Maamria’s side failed to find their first points of the season.
Burton have been stuck in the third tier for their sixth straight campaign now. After finishing in the bottom half last term, they will be hoping for an improved season in Maamria's first full year in charge of the club. A deep cup run for the Brewers is not too far fetched since they were able to reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup back in 2018/19 before they were dumped out by Manchester City.
Leicester City Form
It was an extremely disappointing season for the Foxes last term as they were relegated from the top flight after nine consecutive campaigns in the Premier League. However, it was a positive start to life back in the Championship after they defeated Coventry 2-1 thanks to a brace from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, fighting back from a goal down.
Leicester have seen recent success in the EFL Cup and have reached the quarter-finals in back-to-back seasons. They were knocked out of the competition by Newcastle United last year, before losing on penalties to Liverpool the season prior. The Foxes have at least reached the quarter-final stage in five out of their last six attempts.
Head-to-Head
Burton and Leicester last met in competitive action in this competition four years ago. The Foxes ran out 3-1 winners in 2019. However, Burton recorded a 2-1 triumph two years prior in a friendly match. The last time the Brewers won a competitive match against Leicester was in the EFL Cup in 2012.
Team News
Josh Walker was on the sidelines for the league opener due to a hip injury. He is set to miss the next few weeks. However, he is expected to be the only injury issue for Burton.
The visitors were without Conor Coady and Victor Kristiansen for the match against Coventry. However, they were the only absentees. It is not yet known how long Coady will be out for, whilst Kristiansen could return after suffering a minor injury.
Key Players
Veteran defender and captain John Brayford will be the key man for Burton. The 35-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Harrogate last time out. Former Derby County winger Mason Bennett will be looking to find his first goal for the club after signing from Millwall over the summer.
Dewsbury-Hall will be full of confidence after scoring a brace last time out. He will be one to look out for if he features in this one. Of course, veteran forward Jamie Vardy will also be influential if he gets the start or features off the bench.
How to watch on TV or Online
The EFL Cup tie between Burton Albion and Leicester City will be available to watch in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
Final Thoughts
The visitors are far superior than the hosts and will likely take this competition seriously, as they have done over the past half a decade. Progression for Leicester is expected here and their recent history in the competition bodes well for them.
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