GARY Rowett could be forced into changes tonight as Burton Albion travel to Aldershot Town looking to stay in the hunt for promotion from League Two.
Jacques Maghoma and Billy Kee are both nursing knee injuries from the 3-1 win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday and are doubtful for the clash at the Recreation Ground, kick-off 7.45pm.
Brewers boss Rowett is tempted to freshen his side up anyway after their exertions in recent weeks and could tweak his line-up.
“We have to be careful with one or two and it might give me a reason to change it,” he said. “I felt as though we should freshen it up once or twice before, didn’t and we came unstuck.
“To maintain that intensity you saw against Cheltenham, you can’t expect the same XI to do it game after game.
“It might be time to change it.”
Should Kee be ruled out, it is likely that Calvin Zola could earn a first start since the 1-1 draw at Oxford United on January 29 – if his hip has settled down following some discomfort when he came on at Bristol Rovers 10 days ago.
“Calvin was fit enough to be on the bench on Saturday and has had two or three days since to recover,” said Rowett. “It certainly puts him in contention – we’ll have to look at what the game dictates.”
Aldershot were the last side to prevent Albion from winning at home when they escaped from the Pirelli Stadium with a 1-0 win on November 20.
The Brewers have since won home nine matches on the bounce, setting a new club record.
Despite the Shots conquering Albion at Fortress Pirelli, Rowett insists his men treat the game as just another chance for three points and not a revenge mission.
“We do (owe them), but it’s three points and that’s it,” he said. “What should bring the motivation is not just the fact they beat us at home, but the Bristol Rovers game and the way they didn’t do themselves any justice.”
Burton lost 3-0 at Bristol to end a seven-match unbeaten run which took them into the automatic promotion places.
It was a disappointment, but Rowett got an almost-perfect response as a Robbie Weir brace and a first goal for the club for loan signing Alex MacDonald against Cheltenham took Albion back third in the table.
Now, ahead of kick-off tonight he wants his players to think back to how they felt after Bristol.
“We need a similar performance to Saturday against Aldershot,” said the Brewers boss. “I see the Bristol game slightly different to the other ones.
“It came off the back of great away draws at Wimbledon and Oxford and a terrific performance at Cheltenham.
“The defeat at Bristol should have refocused us – it certainly did for Cheltenham on Saturday.
“We have to get back to that feeling after Bristol and start as though it’s the next game with resolve and determination.”
Nathan Stanton, meanwhile, has returned to training after two injections to settle down a knee injury.
He will not be involved tonight and will probably miss Saturday’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge, but could be available for selection next week.
Aaron Webster is still out of contention with a hamstring injury, but could return to training later in the week.
