Burton Albion and Birmingham City are set to meet at the Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday night in a pre-season clash that gives both clubs another chance to sharpen up before the new campaign.
For Burton, the fixture comes as they continue to build fitness after a 0-0 draw with Alfreton Town and a 3-0 loss to Leicester City this summer. Gary Bowyer has said he wants performances to improve while his players keep working their way through pre-season, and this game offers another useful test against higher-level opposition.
Birmingham City arrive with more encouraging early results behind them. They beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 and Solihull Moors 3-0 in their opening warm-up games, and the match in Burton is part of a fuller summer schedule as they prepare for the new season.
What the match means for both sides
Burton are preparing for a ninth successive season in League One after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, so every pre-season outing matters as they try to build rhythm and find the right level ahead of the competitive fixtures. Birmingham, meanwhile, returned to the Championship after winning the League One title with 111 points in the 2024-25 campaign and finished 10th in their first season back, so their focus is on maintaining momentum and settling into the next stage of their build-up.
There is also a clear competitive edge to the evening for both clubs. Burton begin the 2026-27 campaign at home to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup first round on August 8, while Birmingham are due to open their season with an EFL Cup first-round tie at Swansea City. That means these friendlies are not just about minutes and fitness; they are also part of the wider process of getting the squad ready for meaningful games.
Players to watch
Burton's pre-season work has included Corey Addai, Curtis Tilt and Matthew Dennis, while Birmingham have already had James Beadle back on loan from Brighton after confirming his return last Friday. Those are the kinds of early-summer moves that can shape how the rest of pre-season looks, especially with squads still taking shape.
With both teams still early in their preparations, the main aim on Wednesday night will be simple: get through the match, build fitness and take another step toward the season ahead.
