Stags target rare FA Cup run

The Stags have not been past the fourth round of the FA Cup since the 2007/08 season and have only reached the third round twice since then.

Mansfield Town have a chance to reach the third round of the FA Cup for the third time since the 2007/08 season as they take on National League outfit Dagenham & Redbridge at the One Call Stadium.

A place in the third round for Mansfield would undoubtedly boost the profile and revenue of the club. Nigel Clough is a known admirer of cup competitions and will be keen to progress.

The Stags will want to banish demons of recent FA Cup journeys, reaching just the first round in the 2018/19 season and the second round in the 2019/20 season.

They struggled with National League opposition last year as they narrowly scrapped a 1-0 win in round one of the FA Cup.

Dagenham & Redbridge managed to beat League Two opposition in the first round of this year’s competition.

Grimsby Town came to visit the Chigwell Construction Stadium as the Mariners faced the Daggers. Scott Wilson gave the National League outfit the lead in the tenth minute as they looked to work the magic of the cup.

That luck looked to have ran out on the hour mark as Owen Windsor slotted away a penalty to put Grimsby level and breed life back into the encounter.

The magic got back to work as Wilson scored a second in the first minute of added time and Mitch Brundle added a third for Dagenham from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of added time to ensure the Daggers advanced to the next round of the cup.

That same magic came through for Mansfield Town as they faced Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. A giant like Sunderland, you’d think they’d breeze past the Stags and make the second round of the cup.

Well, you’d be wrong!

The Stags held their own and produced a fantastic performance under caretaker manager Richard Cooper.

The men in amber and blue were able to get a 1-0 victory over the Black Cats and get over the line to impress manager Nigel Clough, who was in the stands watching on.

Mansfield Town will look to get back to winning ways again as they managed to lose their unbeaten streak during midweek against Harrogate Town.

The newly-promoted side squeezed a 1-0 win against the Stags as relentless shots did not simply drop on target for the home side and they dropped even closer to the relegation zone of League Two.

The Daggers have gone almost two weeks without a game as their last game was on November 17th against Sutton United as they drew 1-1 with the National League high-flyers.

Freshness will definitely come into play with this fixture as Dagenham have had a long time to prepare and re-energise before this game. Mansfield’s last game was Tuesday night and it will be up to Nigel Clough to pick the right players who are up to the task to take the Stags into the next round of the FA Cup.

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