Burton vs West Ham: FA Cup fourth round — build-up, team news and what to watch
Burton Albion host West Ham in a fourth-round FA Cup clash that pits League One ambition against Premier League rotation. Kick-off is scheduled for 7: 15 AM ET at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday, with both clubs eager to progress in the competition despite contrasting league priorities.
Match overview and context
Separated by 47 places in the league pyramid, this will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. Burton arrive buoyed by an eye-catching cup run — the Brewers have netted freely in earlier rounds — while West Ham, juggling a Premier League survival fight, have signalled their intent to treat the competition seriously even as they rotate the squad.
West Ham team news and rotation
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo has made wholesale changes for the tie, with only one survivor from the midweek draw with Manchester United keeping his place. Jarrod Bowen is absent from the matchday squad as part of the rotation, and Alphonse Areola is set to start in goal. Keiber Lamadrid, a January arrival, is in line for a senior debut and could be joined by several youngsters and fringe players handed an opportunity to stake a claim.
Burton's selection and key threats
Gary Bowyer has made a single change to the side that drew at Port Vale, bringing Jack Armer in for Alex Hartridge. Burton have been prolific in this season's FA Cup, scoring freely against St Albans City, Brackley Town and Boreham Wood, and will look to use their momentum and familiarity with lower-league cup dynamics to trouble their illustrious visitors. Tyrese Shade has been among the scorers in earlier rounds and will be one to watch alongside Fabio Tavares, who has also found the net consistently in the competition.
What West Ham must guard against
Despite fielding a rotated XI, West Ham's manager has emphasised caution. The coaching staff have practised penalties ahead of the tie and warned players to be wary of set-piece and throw-in routines that can unsettle teams unused to the physical, compact style of some lower-league opponents. Forgetting the basics could turn this into an embarrassing exit: recent history has shown cup upsets are far from unheard of.
Youngsters and potential debutants
The match presents a prime opportunity for West Ham's emerging players. Lamadrid may make his first-team bow; names from the club's development ranks are also listed as possible options on the bench. For Burton, the tie is a chance to showcase talent against top-level opposition and to reward the home supporters with a competitive performance on a chilly afternoon. The ground has been protected with a heat blanket in recent days amid freezing forecasts, so the fixture is expected to go ahead.
How to follow and final notes
Kick-off at the Pirelli Stadium is at 7: 15 AM ET. With Premier League survival the priority for West Ham, the balance between resting senior players and pursuing a cup run will be central to the narrative. For Burton, this is a chance to create one of the season's memorable FA Cup stories by toppling elite opposition on home turf.
