Can the return of Stephen Quinn and Tyrese Sinclair inspire the Stags as they welcome Port Vale to the One Call Stadium

Embed from Getty Images

Mansfield Town are in free fall and currently only find themselves above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Pressure continues to mount on Stags boss Nigel Clough, his staff and his playing squad after an abysmal start to the current campaign.

10 points from 12 league games, failing to score a single goal in the last four league games, winless in the last 12 matches. These stats are nothing to be proud of and something must change and it needs to be fast before it is too late.

Last time out for the Stags, they failed to build on their goalless draw against Oldham Athletic and it was another defeat after an uninspiring performance from the amber and blues.

Midway through the first half, Aaron McGowan gave Northampton Town the lead. The ball was only half-cleared by Mansfield as it reached the full-back on the edge of the area with the low shot hitting the back of the net.

Nigel Clough’s men only recorded one shot on target in the whole game as they failed to trouble Cobblers goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

In the 74th minute, the hosts grabbed their second through centre-back Fraser Horsfall. Mitch Pinnock picked out the defender in the box as he headed the ball into the net.

The defeat saw the Stags drop down the table into 22nd place. Their form since the opening two games of the season has been awful as they have only mustered up four points from 10 matches.

On the other hand, their opponents this time around have won four out of their last five league games. Port Vale’s good run of form has seen them score at least once in their last 10 matches as they sit third in the League Two table.

The Valiants beat Barrow 3-1 last weekend and bounced back after their shock defeat to Sutton United which saw them surrender a 3-2 lead late on.

Ollie Banks gave the Bluebirds a first half lead as that was the only shot on target for the visitors with Port Vale striking three times in the second period.

In the 51st minute, Dennis Politic equalised for the Valiants with the hosts in the lead five minutes later after James Jones’ own goal.

Mal Benning’s strike in the 85th minute put the game beyond Barrow as Port Vale kept their place in the top three.

The Stags completed the double over the Valiants last season as they beat them 4-0 at the One Call Stadium and 3-0 at Vale Park.

Port Vale have only won once against the amber and blues in League Two with that victory coming back in March 2019.

In the last five games, 18 goals have been scored but this fixture could be either a goalfest or a boring draw due to the fixture’s nature.

Mansfield need to pick up a result whether it be a draw or a slim victory. Something needs to happen as if they do lose again it could see them drop into the bottom two after 13 league games.

Darrell Clarke’s side will see this encounter as a winable one especially with ex-Stags Mal Benning and Aidan Stone in their ranks. With their current form, the Valiants are huge favourites with eyes glued on Nigel Clough and whether he can get the amber and blues up and running again.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt

[columns]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”609″ heading=”EFL” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[column size=”1/2″][blog type=”timeline” posts=”10″ cats=”1072″ heading=”News” heading_type=”timeline” /][/column]
[/columns]