Stags welcome Bristol Rovers to the One Call Stadium for EFL League Two opener

Mansfield Town begin their 2021/22 campaign at home against the newly relegated Bristol Rovers.

The amber and blues will be looking to start the new season in a positive manner after a fantastic end to the previous campaign saw them clinch a 16th place finish in League Two.

It won’t be easy for the Nottinghamshire club, as in their first game of the season, they face Bristol Rovers who were relegated from League One last season.

Joey Barton’s side finished rock bottom in the third tier and dropped down to the fourth tier for the first time in five seasons.

The Gas have made a number of signings this summer transfer window in order to get themselves promoted back into League One.

Their pre-season has been very inconsistent with three draws against Melksham Town, Plymouth Argyle and Havant & Waterlooville with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Barnet sandwiched in between the draws against Melksham and Plymouth. In their final game ahead of the new campaign, they beat Oxford United 3-2 with new signing Brett Pitman scoring twice on his debut.

On the other hand, Nigel Clough’s Stags had a positive pre-season as the new signings were integrated into the squad.

A 9-1 thumping of Retford United in the first match was followed by two 1-0 defeats against Matlock Town and Grimsby Town. Mansfield Town were able to return to winning ways after the losses as four successive wins were achieved against Alfreton Town, Hull City, Coventry City and Basford United.

New strikers, Danny Johnson and Oli Hawkins look to have formed a deadly duo with the latter’s hold up play allowing the former to do what he does best, put the ball into the back of the net.

It will be key for both sides to get a win under their belt early on as it could spark a winning run which is absolutely vital in League Two with the number of games and points on offer.

In the all-time head-to-head in League Two, Bristol Rovers hold the upper hand as they have beaten Mansfield Town six times in the last 10 matches since the formation of the new fourth tier.

The Stags’ only victory came in May 2014 with a slender 1-0 at the Memorial Stadium which in turn relegated the Gas down to non-league, ending a 94-year stay in the Football League.

When the Rovers came straight back up the next season, they dealt the Nottinghamshire club two defeats. Clough’s squad will look to get a victory over the Pirates in front of the home crowd, but it certainly will not be made easy.

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