Stags go back to the drawing board as they head into their encounter against Barrow at Holker Street

Mansfield Town must pick themselves once more after an uninspiring result in midweek sees them fall in the League Two table and closer to the relegation zone.

Even though the Nottinghamshire club find themselves 11 points clear of the drop-zone, defeat has seen them drop to 19th place and only three points ahead of Port Vale in 21st, however Nigel Clough’s men have a game in hand on the Valiants.

After a great victory against Morecambe last weekend, Mansfield travelled to Valley Parade to face in-form Bradford City who looked to punish the Stags.

Jason Law came the closest in the opening exchanges after he gained possession inside the penalty box, but he saw his effort cannon off the inside of the post.

The Bantams made the Amber and Blues pay in the 32nd minute. Awful defending saw Danny Rowe unmarked with the forward tapping the ball beyond Aidan Stone, into the back of the net.

Mansfield went close in the final stages of the match when Ollie Clarke headed a Law corner agonisingly wide of the post.

The evening went from bad to worse for the skipper as he was sent off in the final stages of the match due to violent conduct but after a successful appeal, the midfielder will not have to serve a three-match ban and will therefore be available for selection.

Barrow, currently sit in the drop-zone in 23rd and will be desperate of getting a result against a deflated Mansfield in a bid to survive in the division.

After a weekend defeat against Bolton, the Bluebirds head into their match against a fellow promoted side, Harrogate Town, with the burning desire of getting back to winning ways.

The game was evenly matched with Michael Jolley’s men able to keep the Town at a goalless stalemate heading into the half-time interval.

Barrow held onto the point up until the 84th minute. Jack Muldoon broke the Cumbrians’ heart by scoring a late goal which saw the Sulphurites take all three points, and leave the Bluebirds empty-handed once more.

The last time the Stags faced this weekend’s opposition, it was the final time Graham Coughlan would be seen in the One Call Stadium home dugout.

Bradley Barry put the League Two new boys run into the lead in the tenth minute. From that point on, everything went downhill for the Amber and Blues.

Patrick Brough doubled the lead for the visitors in the 23rd minute as the Bluebirds ran riot at the One Call Stadium.

James Perch was able to reduce the deficit to one goal before the half-time whistle, but six minutes into the second period, Aaron O’Driscoll was shown a second yellow and subsequently a red card which deflated the Stags completely.

Ten minutes on from O’Driscoll’s sending off, Josh Kay added a third for Jolley’s men as they reclaimed their two-goal cushion.

That cushion turned into a three-goal one after Harrison Biggins put his name on the scoresheet with 11 minutes remaining of normal time.

Harry Charsley scored a late consolation in the 89th minute, but it was too little too late as the Stags were beaten 4-2 and subsequently saw the sacking of Coughlan.

Clough will look to put the last result right as the Stags travel to Holker Street for the first time since 2013 with Mansfield being relatively successful at the home of the Bluebirds.

The amber and blues have been victorious against Barrow 45% of the time in the 21st century with thrashings of 4-0, 8-1 and 7-1 all back in their days in the then Conference.

That fighting spirit needs to return once more if the Nottinghamshire club want to pull away from the drop-zone and comfortably remain in the division.

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