Mansfield Town looking for vital win at Cambridge United

Mansfield Town have not won a game in a very long time and under new manager Graham Coughlan they have only won two points out of a possible nine.

The Stags were unable to win on the round against Bradford last weekend with two mistakes costing the amber and blues as Bradford City’s main striker James Vaughan was able to slot away two penalties.

Cambridge United were able to narrowly beat Morecambe at home, Jack Roles’ goal in the 57th minute gifting the U’s a vital three points.

Team news

Mansfield Town will be without Kellan Gordon and Conor Shaugnessy who are both out with injuries.

For the U’s Leon Davies, Luke Hannant, Kyle Knoyle and Samir Carruthers are all unlikely to start in the game against Mansfield.

Colin Calderwood is “hopeful” that Jack Roles’ loan spell at Cambridge United will be extended.

“At the minute all parties seem to agree – Jack, Tottenham and ourselves, so we’re very, very hopeful,” he said

“It’s next week that the loan period ends. Discussions have started already and we’re really just wanting to dot the I’s and cross the T’s on it and we’re very hopeful.

“Paul Brush was here [at the Abbey for the Morecambe game]and he looks after a lot of the loan signings at Tottenham, so it’s positive.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed, because you just never know when it’s a loan or a transfer.”

He added: “You can see his quality, you can see he’s developing, you can see there’s more power coming into his game.”

“I think he’s been able to work at a different tempo [compared to when he arrived].

“It was an interesting game for him [against Morecambe]. Not one that will live in his memory, but it’s the type of game when [his involvement]helped us.”

Stags’ boss Graham Coughlan says that the Mansfield dressing room is one low on ‘confidence and belief,’ but that he has seen enough to suggest that there is ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’

“I’ve walked into a dressing room that is feeling sorry for itself and one that has had its confidence and belief shattered,” he told iFollow Stags.

“Naturally, when you perform like that, it’s going to be a dressing room low on confidence. It needs hard work, organisation and structure, and that’s what I’m here for.

“Like I said to the troops in there – I’m certainly not walking round with my head down or sulking, and I’m certainly not going down the line of officials.

“I’m rolling my sleeves up, coming in tomorrow morning and going again. I want a winning team, and we haven’t won in three games, but I don’t believe we’re a million miles away.

“I will back this dressing room because they will get better over the weeks and months. There is plenty of hope and glimmers that I’ve seen to hang on to.

“There’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel but we need to work for the next couple of weeks and months.

“After a defeat I’m a bit annoyed that we let that tremendous support down again.”

Head-to-head

Cambridge United: 5 wins

7 draws

Mansfield Town: 7 wins