Bowyer’s Burton look to halt a three-game slide after narrow defeat at Doncaster
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Darren Pickford
Gary Bowyer’s Burton Albion are looking for a reaction after a third straight League One defeat. Leon Ayinde’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave Doncaster Rovers a 1–0 win at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday.
Burton had chances to get something from the game. Matthew Dennis hit the post early on after a save from Doncaster goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, and late in the match Gbemi Arubi was denied on the line. In the end, Ayinde’s first EFL goal in the second minute of first-half stoppage time was enough to separate the sides.
The defeat continues a frustrating run. Burton lost 3–1 at home to Huddersfield Town on 3 October, and before that they had produced a notable result, a 1–0 win at leaders Plymouth Argyle on 26 September.
Burton now sit 10th in the table on 12 points. They have played 10 games, as many as leaders Plymouth and more than every other club, so they have no games in hand to fall back on as the season moves into its busiest phase.
There was some consolation for Bowyer last week when he was named on the shortlist for League One’s Manager of the Month award for September, reflecting a strong run of results. Reading’s Leam Richardson took the award.
Bowyer’s post-match reaction to the Doncaster defeat was recorded for BBC Sounds, and the task for him now is to turn the team’s recent form around quickly.
The fixture list gives Burton no time to dwell. They travel to Peterborough United on Saturday in a 12:30 kick-off, where Robbie Savage’s side will be buoyed by their 3–1 win at Leicester City. Burton then host second-placed Bradford City on Tuesday 20 October (19:45), followed by a home game against Leyton Orient on Saturday 24 October.
The month ends with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday 31 October. That run offers chances to get back on track, with two home games in the space of four days, but Burton will need to be more clinical than they were in South Yorkshire.
The margins at Doncaster were small: a post, a goal-line clearance and a single goal at the end of the first half. Burton know that if those moments start to go their way, they can climb back towards the top half quickly.
Burton Albion have called the Pirelli Stadium home since 2005, when they left nearby Eton Park for a purpose-built ground on Princess Way. Capacity is 6,912, of which 2,034 seats sit in the South Stand. The other three sides are covered single-tier terraces. For visiting supporters it is a compact, easy-to-read ground: you will almost certainly be behind the eastern goal, with a clear view and a short walk from the car park or the main road.
Away fans are housed in the East Terrace, the Russell Roof Tiles Stand, which takes around 1,200 to 1,400 standing supporters. When demand is high, extra seats open in the eastern end of the South Stand. The scoreboard sits in the roof of the away terrace. Views are unobstructed; there are no pillars in the way. Wheelchair bays for visitors sit in front of the East Terrace. Expect a search at the turnstiles. Leave large bags and rucksacks at home if you can, as they slow the queue.
The pitch runs east to west, so the goals sit in front of the West and East stands, not north and south. Home standing is split between the Don Amott Stand behind the western goal and the North Terrace, known as the Popside. The South Stand is the only all-seater, and it holds the club shop, ticket office, conference rooms, press facilities and directors’ boxes. A police control box sits in the south-east corner between the Main Stand and the away end.
Sat-nav postcodes are DE13 0AR or DE13 0BH. From the A38 leave at Clay Mills, follow Derby Road (A5121) and turn onto Princess Way. The stadium car park holds about 400 vehicles at £5 on a first-come basis and fills early. Overflow parking is usually signposted at Ryknild Trading Estate for the same fee. Disabled spaces can be booked in advance through the club on 01283 565938. Burton station is roughly a mile and a half away; allow about 25 minutes on foot, or use the local bus that runs between the station and the ground.
Inside, the away concourse sells pies, burgers, hot dogs and the club’s well-known faggots, chips and peas, plus beer. The stadium is largely cashless, so bring a card or phone wallet. A Co-op and a BP station sit close by if you need cash or snacks before kick-off. The Beech Inn on Derby Road is the usual away-friendly pub, about a ten-minute walk towards McDonald’s rather than town. Alcohol is sold in the away areas on most match days, subject to the usual restrictions.
Arrive early if you want a pitch-side spot on the terrace; stewards may ask people to shuffle along to keep gangways clear. After the whistle the East Stand is handy for the main road, while the North Terrace is closest to the club car park. Check Burton Albion’s site before you travel for the exact allocation, turnstile letters and any category pricing. It is a modern lower-league ground with proper terracing, a short pitch-side walk and a straightforward away end behind the goal.