CHAMPAGNE MOMENTS . . . Burton Albion last lifted some silverware in 2009 with the Conference title, but could they be about to make it two promotions in four years?BURTON Albion have been making and breaking records on a weekly basis recently, but they can write a new chapter in their history books over the next seven weeks.
Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Dagenham and Redbridge, just eight games remain for the Brewers in what is shaping up to be a fantastic season in League Two.
They currently sit in second place having lost just one of their last 10 games and have a great chance of winning promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in the club’s history.
Here, we look at Albion’s run-in, as well as that of their promotion rivals.
Of their last eight games, Gary Rowett’s men only face two sides currently in the top seven – a trip to local rivals Port Vale on April 5 and what could be a decisive clash with current leaders Gillingham at the Pirelli Stadium on the final day of the season.
Otherwise, after tomorrow’s Victoria Road visit, they have back-to-back home games against Wycombe Wanderers and Chesterfield – three winnable clashes against mid-table sides with little to play for.
They then go on the road to rock-bottom Accrington Stanley and third-placed Vale, before hosting relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle and travelling to League Cup heroes Bradford City in the penultimate tie of the campaign.
Aside from the game against the Valiants, all of those games could garner wins, or at the very least draws, for Albion, given their current form.
If they can do that, it would set up a barnstorming game against the Gills in the season-finale, with the League Two title potentially up for grabs – although Albion need to make up five points on the Kent club, who also have a game in hand.
GILLINGHAM, who present the Brewers’ biggest obstacle to that dream, have a slightly tougher run-in on paper, with five of their remaining nine games away from home.
They also have an extra game to play, as well as testing trips to sixth-placed Cheltenham Town, eighth-placed Fleetwood Town, and of course Burton – while they welcome Rotherham United, fifth with a game in hand themselves, to Priestfield.
If Burton want to set their sights slightly lower, on just winning automatic promotion, then they will look with interest at PORT VALE’S remaining fixtures.
Their Staffordshire rivals are in a woeful run of form, having won just one of their last eight games, with four defeats from the last five.
However, one would think that must end sometime, and they face struggling York City and Aldershot Town in their next two games.
They do have tricky clashes with Cheltenham, Burton and fourth-placed Northampton Town on the horizon though, and need to get back to winning ways if they are not to slip further down the table.
Those three - Gillingham, Burton and Vale - currently occupy the three automatic promotion places, but the four teams below them are only a few points behind, and a play-off spot might well like a consolation prize for any of the top seven now.
Fourth-placed Northampton Town have an almost identical record to the Brewers so far, and aside from trips to Cheltenham and Vale, do not have a terrible difficult run-in.
The Cobblers are the only team in the entire Football League to have won as many home games as the Brewers, and could easily push for the top three.
Below them, ROTHERHAM UNITED have arguably one of the toughest runs, with trips to Cheltenham and Gillingham, and homes games against Exeter and Fleetwood.
However that is nothing compared to the arduous task facing draw specialists CHELTENHAM TOWN, currently sixth.
The Robins, beaten 3-1 by Albion last weekend, face five of the teams around them - Rotherham, Vale, Northampton, Gillingham and Exeter - in their last eight games.
Finally we have Exeter City, who have found the net consistently away from home this season.
The Grecians are the furthest off the pace, but their only tricky ties are away to Rotherham and at home to Cheltenham.
