Mansfield Town hunt vital win as they play Exeter City

League leaders Exeter City host Mansfield Town at St James’ Park in what looks to be an exciting encounter.

Current Sky Bet League Two leaders, Exeter City take on Mansfield Town in what will be a very interesting game. Mansfield, who currently sit in 14th place, have had a rough start under new manager John Dempster with the Stags only winning one out of their last five league games.

Team news

Manager John Dempster confirmed in Thursday morning’s news conference that striker Nicky Maynard is in contention for the weekend’s match, while defenders Krystian Pearce and Kellan Gordon will train on Friday and could feature in Devon.

The Stags will be without midfielder Neal Bishop, who has an Achilles injury, and wing-back Hayden White, who has a knock.

The amber and blue will also be missing strikers Craig Davies and Jordan Graham, along with goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

Forward Andy Cook, who has a knee injury, will also miss out.

The Grecians will be without midfielder Nigel Atangana for the match.

Manager John Dempster is hopeful of having three of his ‘big hitters’ available for the Stags’ clash with Sky Bet League Two leaders Exeter City on Saturday.

“Nicky Maynard will train today and we expect Krystian Pearce and Kellan Gordon to hopefully train tomorrow. Slowly but surely, we’re getting some of our big hitters back,” he said.

“It’s massive to have them back, KP [Krystian Pearce] is club captain and a massive part of the football club. He’s club captain and has been here for a number of years.

“Kellan is a young player who’s come in and took to it like a duck water, he’s a really good young pro’ and it hasn’t fazed him at all.

“Nicky Maynard is a massive player for us so to have all three of those players back in contention will give the whole club a massive boost.”

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor said his squad is looking healthy going into Saturday’s match with Mansfield Town, following a hectic August fixture schedule.

“The fact that there were no midweek games meant there was a couple with little niggles that we could look after at the start of the week in terms of Monday and Tuesday training and just a bit of a bit of rest and recuperation for a couple,” explained Matt.

“The ones who needed the work, got the work in. Sometimes as a manager you want a free week where you can concentrate on training but when you are in good form you want the games to keep coming. It is about trying to find the right balance. Hopefully, we have done that this week and we are ready for another big week for us in terms of the three games coming up.”

Head-to-head

In the last five encounters between the two sides in Sky Bet League Two, the Gracians have claimed two wins against Mansfield with the Stags also winning two matches between the clubs with one game ending in a 1-1 draw.

Expected line-ups

Exeter City XI- Ward; Moxey, A.Martin, Sweeney; Sparkes, Collins, Taylor, Williams, Law; Bowman, L.Martin

Mansfield Town XI- Logan; Clarke, Preston, Pearce, Sweeney; Benning; Tomlinson, MacDonald, Khan; Maynard, Rose.

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