Struggling Stags face away trip to Sixfields Stadium as they take on Northampton Town

Credit: Northampton Town FC

With another two players added onto the long list of injuries and suspensions, Mansfield Town manager Nigel Clough needs to somehow guide the amber and blues out of a very sticky situation.

The amber and blues saw another two players added to the injury list after the goalless draw against Oldham Athletic last weekend.

George Maris was stretchered off halfway through the first half which saw him sustain a neck injury with Oli Hawkins substituted at half-time due to a groin problem.

However, a slight positive taken from the game against the Latics is that the Stags were able to keep another clean sheet and earn a vital point against an early relegation scrapping side.

On the downside, Mansfield had plenty of chances to score but chances were not taken once more with the frontmen failing to score for the third consecutive league game.

The Nottinghamshire club’s last away day during the 2019/20 season, before the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to the campaign, saw them play this weekend’s opponents.

Mansfield came out of that game 2-1 victors which was a positive result after the season they endured which saw John Dempster sacked and Graham Coughlan brought in as the new manager, but the Irishman was eventually sacked a few games into the 2020/21 season.

Northampton Town were still able to make the play-offs that campaign, due to points per game, and a 4-0 win against Exeter City saw them promoted into League One.

Life in the third-tier was far from easy for the Cobblers who came straight back down to League Two after finishing 22nd last season.

Jon Brady’s side are currently sat in 14th place with four wins, three draws and four losses to their name. Similarly to the Stags, Northampton have been in bad form recently, failing to pick up a victory in their last four league matches.

The Cobblers’ last league encounter came away at Victoria Park as they took on newly-promoted Hartlepool United.

Sam Hoskins gave Northampton the lead in the 50th minute but the Pools were able to record a home victory after goals from David Ferguson and Luke Molyneux earned them all three points.

Mansfield will need a positive result and make the most of the Cobblers’ poor run of form, however, they are in a similar predicament with this game likely to be either a draw or swing in either sides favour after a single goal.

Also, the Stags haven’t won an away game this season with their last victory on the road coming against Port Vale in the final game of the 2020/21 season.

This fixture could either see goals galore or a bore draw, but the Stags will be hoping to pick up a much-needed win in tough circumstances.

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