The Stags look to put Bradford City defeat past them as they face Swindon Town at The County Ground

Mansfield Town will be looking to get back to winning ways and keep their unbeaten away record intact as Ben Garner’s Swindon Town welcome the Nottinghamshire club to The County Ground.

The amber and blues’ unbeaten league start was ended after Bradford City scored a late winner through ex-Stag Andy Cook to secure them the three points.

Derek Adams’ side opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Callum Cooke’s delivery found Paudie O’Connor with the defender heading the ball past Nathan Bishop and into the back of the net.

However, Mansfield were able to get back level just before the break. Oli Hawkins latched onto a Ollie Clarke pinpoint cross to nod in the equaliser.

Hawkins scored another after half-time as he volleyed the ball into the bottom right corner following a Rhys Oates cross.

The Bantams were back on level terms a couple of minutes later through Charles Vernam. Cooke played a through ball into the path of the forward who cured an effort beyond Bishop and into the back of the net.

Vernam had a hand in the winner as his initial effort was saved and forward Cook reacted quickest to tap the ball in and hand Bradford the three points.

Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough was visibly angry and frustrated with his side after they led through Hawkins’ brace.

“We didn’t defend well enough,” he told the club’s website. “We’ve scored two goals at home, so we’re entitled to get something from the game and we didn’t.

“In the previous games, two goals have been enough, but they weren’t today as we defended so ineptly at times.

“I’m a little bit angry at the moment. So, I’ll have to be careful with what I say, but I’m very disappointed. I probably picked the wrong team today.

“I thought it was a brilliant League Two game, first and foremost. I thought we scored two brilliant goals.

“We didn’t create too many chances, but we put good balls into the penalty area and played some good stuff at times.

“I think we take a little bit of a step back [when we go ahead]and I don’t know why. We encourage them to carry on playing forward.”

The Stags now face another away trip as newly relegated Swindon welcome the amber and blues to The County Ground.

Ben Garner’s side have had problems on and off the field after they were relegated back down to League Two after only one season in the third tier.

The Robins started the season positively with a 3-1 victory against Scunthorpe United on the opening day of the season, but that was followed by two consecutive defeats in the Carabao Cup against Cambridge United and in league action against Carlisle United.

Swindon were able to then secure a positive goalless draw against last season’s play-off semi-finalists Tranmere Rovers before securing three points against promotion favourites, Salford City.

Jack Payne’s goal was the difference on the afternoon as that was the only shot on target the Robins recorded during their encounter against the Ammies.

Swindon Town boss Garner was proud of his team’s fantastic display of resilience as they were able to hold onto a 1-0 win over Salford.

“It was a very pleasing result because we’ve played really well in the opening three games with the ball and not been anywhere near as good today.

“Considering the preseason we had and the run of games, the grit, the determination and the defensive resiliency in the second-half was really, really pleasing because you need both sides of the game if you are going to be successful.

“We were much better organised in the second-half, we had a much better structure about us, we reduced them to minimal chances in the second-half because there were too many in the first-half and Jojo Wollacott was outstanding for us.”

In League Two action, the Robins have lost once against the Stags with the defeat coming all the way back in December 2006 as Mansfield ran 2-0 winners.

Since then, Swindon have recorded four wins with two games ending in goalless draws just showing how strong the Wiltshire outfit are against the amber and blues.

Garner and his side will be looking to continue from where they left off and beat Clough’s side to make it three games without a loss, but the Stags will be looking for retribution and a stern test against Swindon may be the right solution at this moment in time.

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