In arguably the biggest game of the League Two season so far, County welcome closest promotion rivals Mansfield Town to Edgeley Park on New Year’s Day looking to extend their lead at the top.
None of the top four in League Two managed to win last time out, with County, Barrow and Mansfield all held to a draw, whilst Wrexham were beaten 3-1 at Walsall to drop down to third. Fifth place Notts County were the big winners on the day, their 5-0 thrashing of Morecambe moving them to within nine points of County at the top.
Dave Challinor’s side head into the new year five points clear at the top, although opponents Mansfield have two games in hand over the Hatters. A third straight home win would move us eight points clear of the Stags, and with Wrexham taking on Barrow elsewhere in League Two we would also extend our lead over at least one of those sides.
For Mansfield, beaten just once in the league all season, it’s an opportunity for them to apply real pressure at the top of the table, as Nigel Clough’s side look to reach League One for the first time in 21 years.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets in the Vitality Railway End are still available for this fixture, with all other stands now sold out! Click here to order yours today!
- County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 1.00pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Coming to the game on Monday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- This fixture will be available for all supporters to watch over on Stockport County Live, featuring live match commentary from Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Click here to purchase your video match passes today.
Since we last met:
Despite twice taking the lead in the first half of the reverse fixture at Field Mill back in August, a resurgent second half from Mansfield saw County lose that encounter 3-2 following a late double from Davis Keillor-Dunn.
It formed part of a disappointing start to the campaign for County, leaving us with one win and three defeats from our first five games. Since that day however, County have lost just once in twenty league outings, winning 14 to emerge as leaders at the half-way stage.
Mansfield just missed out on the play-offs last season via goal difference but kept faith with manager Nigel Clough over the summer, and the 57-year-old has the Stags right in the middle of the automatic promotion chase this time around.
It wasn’t until their 18th league of the season that they first tasted defeat, a last minute 2-1 loss away at Swindon Town. They haven’t lost any of their five games since that day at the County Ground and boast the best defensive record in League Two, having let in just 19 goals in 23 games.
There have been a lot of draws along the way however – ten in total so far, the most of any side in the division, with the latest such result seeing them held at home to struggling Doncaster Rovers on Friday night.
At their fluent best though, they have proven difficult to stop – perhaps best displayed in a stunning 4-1 win away at Notts County in October, live on Sky Sports, and in that second half display against County in August.
Former Oldham midfielder Keillor-Dunn has been central to their successes so far – playing in a more advanced position, the 26-year-old has scored 13 goals already this season, forming an effective partnership up front alongside the experienced Lucas Akins.
Match Stats:
- Monday will be the 89th competitive meeting between the two sides, with County winning 31 previous encounters to Mansfield’s 36.
- We are winless in our last seven games against the Stags, losing six times. We came very close to ending that run last season, only to be denied by a stoppage time equaliser from Lucas Akins.
- Friday night’s shutout at Bradford was Ben Hinchliffe’s tenth clean sheet of the season in League Two, the most of any keeper in the division. Mansfield’s Christy Pym is second with nine.
- County have the best home record in League Two with 30 points from our 13 games – winning eight of our last nine league games at Edgeley Park.
