A good result imperative as the Stags travel to St James Park to face Exeter City

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After an uninspiring performance against Leyton Orient, the Stags are back on the road to face Play-Off hunting Exeter City at St James Park.

Nigel Clough’s men are playing with fire as they enter the final games of the League Two season nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Leyton Orient travelled to the One Call Stadium on Good Friday with one intention, getting a victory to put them ever closer to the Play-Offs

They did just that by capitalising on countless errors from the Stags and ultimately getting the valuable three points after 90 minutes.

Danny Johnson had a chance to capitalise on one of Kellan Gordon’s countless mistakes as the forward ran into the box but saw his shot saved by Aidan Stone’s shoulder.

Moments later, the forward made it 1-0 as he was quickest to react and poke the ball into the back of the net from Sam Ling’s corner.

Orient’s top goalscorer was able to capitalise once again in the 77th minute as Gordon’s back pass failed to reach Stone, with Johnson able to round the goalkeeper and slam the ball into an empty goal to double his side’s advantage and ultimately wrap the three points up for the O’s.

Exeter City can’t really say that they have been in the form of their lives either as they clutch onto eighth place, one point away from Newport County in the final Play-Off position in seventh.

Their last game was also played on Good Friday as they travelled to face Darrell Clarke’s resurgent Port Vale at Vale Park.

Theo Robinson scored early on in the game for the Valiants and the Staffordshire side were able to hold onto their lead for the remainder of the match to extend their run of wins to four in a row.

Matt Taylor’s men got their first victory of the League Two season against the Stags in the reverse fixture at the One Call Stadium back in September.

The amber and blues were in front in the 20th minute through Rollin Menayese. The corner was played into the feet of Ollie Clarke who lifted the ball into Harry Charsley.

Mansfield’s number seven in turn squared the ball across the face of goal for Menayese to tap into the back of the net.

A moment of bad luck for Ferrand Rawson saw Exeter level with five minutes remaining in the first-half. The corner came in and hit the defender’s body as he looked to clear but found the ball in the back of the Stags goal as he gifted the Grecians with the equaliser.

Another corner was looped in the 76th minute which saw the visitors take the lead. Josh Key was able to rise highest after the ball was played back into the middle to Rory McArdle, seeing the ball float over everyone and into the back of the net.

The Stags have won three times in their last five matches at St James Park but have not been able to win in their last two latest matches against the Grecians.

Nigel Clough’s men will hope to get a decent result as they battle for survival in the division. This won’t be easy against an Exeter side that is looking to gain promotion to League One via the Play-Offs after losing in the 2020 Play-Off final.

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