STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sat: Burton Albion v West Ham

There’s plenty of traditional FA Cup fixtures in this weekend’s fourth round, and Saturday’s action starts with two sides in relegation battles in the shape of Burton Albion and West Ham, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

League One outfit Burton face the Hammers for the first time ever at Pirelli Way, and will be looking to cause an upset rather than avoid one after they were too good for Boreham Wood in the third round, whilst the Hammers got the better of QPR in an extra-time thriller at the London Stadium.

Since then, Burton, who are locked in a League One relegation struggle, followed up their 5-0 win at Boreham with a 3-1 win at home to Huddersfield, followed by three defeats and two draws, including a thriller with fellow battlers Port Vale last weekend. Their home fixtures in that run are a 2-2 draw against high-flyers Cardiff (absolutely deserved, also according to the data, whilst they won the shot count 10-7) and a 2-1 loss to Doncaster (when the visitors were much the better side on the day, winning the xG count 0.81 to 2.84).

If home fans are looking for any encouragement, Burton’s record against the top teams in League One reads much more impressively than the rest of their form. They’ve won four of ten against teams in the top six of League One at the time of writing, with two fixtures ending in draws (one possibly unlucky against Cardiff) and their defeats all came by a single goal.

 STARSPORTS.BET FOOTBALL MARKETS 

Burton Albion v West Ham
FA Cup 4th Round
12.15 TNT Sports 1 HD / TNT Sports Ultimate / Discovery+

LAST FIVE STATS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
First meeting between teams

BURTON ALBION
FEB 2026 LEAGUE ONE Port Vale 2-2 Burton
FEB 2026 LEAGUE ONE Burton 1-2 Doncaster
JAN 2026 LEAGUE ONE Burton 2-2 Cardiff
JAN 2026 LEAGUE ONE Bolton 2-1 Burton
JAN 2026 LEAGUE ONE Lincoln 2-1 Burton
JAN 2026 LEAGUE ONE Burton 3-1 Huddersfield

WEST HAM
FEB 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE West Ham 1-1 Manchester United
FEB 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Burnley 0-2 West Ham
JAN 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Chelsea 3-2 West Ham
JAN 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE West Ham 3-1 Sunderland
JAN 2026 PREMIER LEAGUE Tottenham 1-2 West Ham

 STARSPORTS.BET MATCH MARKETS 

West Ham have been locked in their own struggle to avoid the drop, although it’s a much more hopeful one now after a transformation in their Premier League form. Aided by a hot streak from their key wingers Crysencio Summerville, who scored in five consecutive games, and their talisman Jarrod Bowen, they won three of four Premier League games and were arguably unlucky not to have taken at lest a point from Stamford Bridge – and this week’s results, with a point against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest sacking Sean Dyche after a draw against Wolves at home, only help their cause.

That form isn’t likely to be of any relevance here though, given that we can expect a number of changes from Nuno. Before their third round encounter against QPR – which the Hammers won in extra-time – they made six changes and switched to a back five. The starting XI that day was: Mads Hermansen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Mayers, Magassa, Potts, Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville, Valentín Castellanos

It would be no surprise if a weaker starting XI was chosen here given that West ham have a home game against Bournemouth next week with more realistic survival prospects, whilst on paper Burton present an easier assignment (21st in League One compared to 13th in Championship, albeit an away trip compared to home), and his comes after a tough contest in midweek against Manchester United.

The starsports.bet prices would look about right if Nuno kept the same starting forward lineup that he had against QPR, but it would be no surprise if he had a weaker outfit this time around so the handicap markets don’t make appeal.

West Ham have kept only one clean sheet in 28 games across all competitions this season, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Burton found the ne,t and the 2-1 and 3-1 correct scores in West Ham’s favour should give punters a run for their money.

---

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Burton Albion 1-2 West Ham 1pt at 7/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Burton Albion 1-3 West Ham 1pt at 9/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

PROFIT/LOSS (FEB 2026): +14.85 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS