Can the magic of the FA Cup strike the Stags once again as they take on Sunderland for a second successive season

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Last season’s First Round FA Cup tie between Mansfield Town and Sunderland at the Stadium of Light could not have gone any better for the amber and blues.

The amber and blues put a fine performance against the Black Cats in their First Round FA Cup meeting last November as they secured a 1-0 victory.

Kellan Gordon’s perfect delivery found the head of George Lapslie whose powerful effort beat Sunderland goalkeeper Remi Matthews and hit the back of the net.

That victory helped the Stags a lot as they went on to secure two consecutive victories against Scunthorpe United in the Papa John’s Trophy and Forest Green Rovers in League Two.

Nigel Clough’s men made it to the Third Round of last year’s competition as they were knocked out by Cheltenham Town after Will Boyle’s 110th-minute winner for the Robins.

However, not much has changed in regards to league position for the Black Cats and the Stags. The ex-Premier League outfit continue to battle for promotion out of the third tier as they sit fifth in League One, five points away from top of the league Plymouth Argyle.

Mansfield have started the season poorly with the amber and blues lingering towards the bottom of the League Two table. A victory against promotion-chasing Tranmere Rovers last time out took the Nottinghamshire club out of the relegation zone and ended a winless streak of 14 games.

After an early penalty miss from Danny Johnson inside the first five minutes of the game, Clough’s men were able to break the deadlock in the 18th minute.

The ever-present Stephen Quinn played a fantastic defence-splitting pass into the path of Rhys Oates who took the ball in his stride. The forward took a touch and placed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal to give the amber and blues the lead.

In the second half, Johnson was able to get onto the scoresheet with a cool finish after Oates’ brilliant assist. Stags’ number 18 beat the defender to head the ball forward before causing havoc in the Tranmere box and laying the ball on a plate for his strike partner to finish with ease.

It was a much-needed victory for the amber and blues after an encouraging performance against Port Vale three weeks ago.

On the other hand, Sunderland have seen their form slide in recent weeks as they recorded their third consecutive league victory after they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

The travelling Black Cats dominated possession but the hosts’ clinical nature put the game beyond them by the half-time interval.

Wednesday opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Wolves loanee Theo Corbeanu who scored his first goal of the season.

Six minutes before the end of the first half, Florian Kamberi doubled the Owls’ advantage and pretty much wrapped up the three points for his side.

Lee Gregory went on to compile the misery for Sunderland in the 53rd minute as the rampant Wednesday ran out 3-0 victors.

What is more worrying for the Black Cats is that they have conceded nine goals in their last three games, and with them facing a Stags side that have just recorded a league win for the first time since August, they will need to get back to winning ways and put an end to their winless streak.

Mansfield will be hoping to repeat their last season feat and in doing so stringing a run of victories which will be crucial at this stage of the season.

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