A return to home comforts for the Stags as they search for an eighth consecutive league victory when they take on Leyton Orient

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Mansfield Town’s astronomical rise has turned them into promotion dark horses with the sides in the top seven split by fine margins.

League leaders Forest Green Rovers are seven points clear of Tranmere Rovers and have breathing room, but sides placed second to seventh are separated by a couple of points as the promotion battle roars on.

The amber and blues continued to deliver even when the going got tough against Barrow last weekend at the Dunes Hotel Stadium.

Within the first 60 seconds, the Stags had already taken the lead through Rhys Oates. A corner from Stephen Quinn was flicked on by Ferrend Rawson, and as the ball bounced up off a Barrow player, Oates was there to nod it in past Paul Farman.

The hosts were stunned after the early breakthrough but they valiantly battled on and had the ball in the back of the net in the 13th minute. Tom White’s cross picked out Luke James with the forward’s header creeping into the bottom corner, however, he was adjudged of being in an offside position.

Four minutes later, the supporters of the Bluebirds could celebrate properly as they scored the equaliser with Robbie Gotts’ corner diverted in by defender Jordan Jones.

Nigel Clough’s men were back in front in the 25th minute after yet another corner. Quinn’s delivery evaded everyone and found its way to Stephen McLaughlin, who smashed his effort low and hard past Farman and the Barrow defenders on the line.

Just a few minutes before half-time, Rawson was shown a second yellow card and was given his marching orders as the Stags went down to 10 men.

This did not face Clough and his men as they resolutely defended their goal and scored a third through Jordan Bowery.

Barrow threw the kitchen sink at the game in the latter stages and even hit the crossbar twice, but they were unable to break through Mansfield’s defence as the amber and blues held on to their 3-1 win.

Leyton Orient travel to the One Call Stadium this weekend, with Kenny Jackett’s side experiencing a tough run of form as of late.

Not winning a game since their 4-1 victory over Swindon Town at the start of December, the O’s have slumped down to 14th place in the league.

Their 0-0 draw against Port Vale last Saturday would have filled them with some confidence to break the winless run, however, they tasted defeat once more as Newport County edged 1-0 winners on Tuesday night.

Jackett’s men have only picked up four points from their last five league games and will be looking to put an end to their poor run of form.

Clough’s men have won their last seven games on the bounce, and especially playing in front of their fans and on home soil, they will be hard to defeat.

Since Orient’s return to the Football League in the 2019/20 season, the Stags have failed to secure a win against the London based side in the last five attempts, with two draws and three losses.

In the sides’ head-to-head in League Two, Mansfield have in fact only won twice in the 13 matches contested between the two teams.

The amber and blues will be looking to break that duck against the O’s to continue their climb up the table and close up on the automatic promotion places.

A victory for Orient would see them rise up to 12th place, if results go their way, but Jackett’s men need a win more than anything to stop the rot and to stop their continuous slide down the table.

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