Burton Albion vs Tranmere Predictions

• No team in League 1 has conceded fewer home goals than Burton this season.
• Burton are the lowest scoring home team in England’s third division this season.
• Only two teams have scored less away goals than Tranmere in League 1 this term.

Lack of goals blighting hosts

Burton’s chances of improving on their respectable 9^th place finish seem quite slim given their performances during the first half of the campaign. By no means a bad side, The Brewers have struggled to put together a string of wins, which is why they’re narrowly outside the top half and are six points shy of the coveted play-off places.

Away from home, Nigel Clough’s men are League 1’s third-highest points scorers, though they’ve been unable to match such efforts with pleasing home form. At Pirelli Stadium, Burton have struggled, especially in terms of consistency, this term, winning three, drawing three and losing three of their nine games. Defensively, they’ve acquitted themselves well, conceding just six goals, but a total of only seven scored has held them back.

Fortunately, Clough’s men regained the winning thread last time out, beating Rochdale by three goals to one at this venue.

Attacking woes for Tranmere

While Burton are currently marooned mid-table, Tranmere are lingering near the danger-zone. They’re only three points ahead of MK Dons, who currently occupy the third and final relegation spot.

Prior to Saturday’s timely win over AFC Wimbledon, Rovers had gone four league games without tasting victory, three of which they lost.

Much like Burton at home, Tranmere have been struggling to score goals. Thursday’s visitors have notched just three goals in their last five, while they’ve scored more than once in just two of their last 12. Given that they’ve kept just two clean sheets during that time, their lack of firepower is a problem.

Away from home, Tranmere have scored just seven goals in ten matches this season, which is simply not enough, especially as they’ve shipped a worrying total of 21, conceding two or more in six out of ten.

Defence the key for Brewers

Burton have found it tough to be prolific scorers at home this term, but they found their scoring touch last time out, while their defensive efforts have simply been far better than Tranmere’s, which leads us to ‘Burton to Win & Under 3.5 Goals’. Forging a few scoring opportunities against a defence that ships an average of 2.1 goals shouldn’t be difficult, while keeping out a low-scoring team should be well within the grasp of The Brewers too. After all, Burton have kept a clean sheet in 44% of their games at Pirelli Stadium and have surrendered the fewest home goals in the division. In addition, less than four goals have been scored in seven of Burton’s eight games at this venue.