Seeking momentum, Mansfield host Bradford City in crucial battle for both teams

Mansfield Town play Bradford City this weekend in League Two with the Stags in need of a win to gain some momentum.

The Amber and Blues have gone five games in EFL League Two without a win, which has really frustrated Stags fans with the lack of points on the board.

Last weekend’s game didn’t go the right way for the Nottinghamshire club. The opponents were Stevenage who miraculously stayed up in League Two after financial problems hit Macclesfield.

This saw the Silkmen relegated from the League and put into the ninth tier of English Football. They have been renamed Macclesfield FC.

Mansfield had the better chances of the game despite both teams having the same amount of shots, and the Stags dominated possession with 65% of the ball in their favour.

Harry Charsley hit the post after ten minutes after he latched onto a Ferrand Rawson flick-on, Nicky Maynard and Jamie Reid had a few chances of their own to try and tip the scoreline in Mansfield’s favour.

In the last minute of the game, Mal Benning swung a corner in which saw George Maris hit the underside of the crossbar, yet the ball somehow did not go into the back of the net and the game finished in a goalless draw at the One Call Stadium.

The Stags’ opponents this weekend, Bradford City, saw themselves lose at Valley Parade to League Two newcomers Harrogate Town.

The live broadcast on Sky Sports saw an end to end Yorkshire Derby in which Harrogate displayed class and resilience as Lloyd Kerry beat Richard O’Donnell in the 74th minute to win the game for Harrogate.

Bradford and Mansfield are two points apart in the league with the Bantams up in 16th and the Stags very close to the relegation zone in 22nd.

The last two meetings in League Two were the first time the sides met since 2008 in which Mansfield drew with the Bantams at Field Mill but pulled off an impressive 2-1 victory at Valley Parade.

On the 29th December 2019, the first fixture between the Stags and the Bantams kicked off underway as Bradford ran out comfortable 2-0 winners after a brace from James Vaughan. The Christmas period came hard on Mansfield as the change in manager from John Dempster to Graham Coughlan saw the Irishman looking to adapt his side to what he liked seeing on the pitch.

The return game was just a month later on the 25th January 2020. The One Call Stadium was packed to see the Stags back in action at home and what a game it was from start to finish. The attack was relentless and the press worked in Mansfield’s favour.

Danny Rose opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Nicky Maynard added a second for the Stags two minutes before half-time. Andy Cook added a third and rounded off a fantastic afternoon that the fans cherished and enjoyed every moment of it.

It will definitely be a tough game for both sets of teams with new signings still getting used to the team as the gelling process continues.

The Stags need to finally get a firm hold of games and to make sure when in the game seeing it out to the end. Bradford will be looking to do the same as Lee Novak and Clayton Donaldson will be looking to pounce on any scraps provided by the Mansfield defence.

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