There’s just ten games to go in what’s been a memorable first season back in the Football League, with everything still to play for as we prepare to take on promotion rivals Mansfield Town at Edgeley Park.
Kyle Wootton’s 12th goal of the season down at Colchester last weekend ended our three-game winless run in League Two, and saw us move back above Bradford City into 5th place following the Bantams’ draw away at Newport County.
There were some midweek games in League Two, with Northampton Town beating Saturday’s opponents Mansfield 1-0, whilst Stevenage also picked up three points in their game at home to Crewe Alexandra. We now sit five points off the automatic promotion places having played a game more, but with Stevenage hosting 3rd place Carlisle on Saturday, County will have the opportunity to close that gap with three points here.
It won’t be easy against a Mansfield side who sit just four points behind us in 8th with two games in hand, as last season’s beaten play-off finalists look to go one better this time out. That defeat at Northampton on Tuesday was a setback, just their second defeat in the last nine games, but they’ll know that a win in SK3 could lift them back into the play-off places..
Things you need to know:
- There are still a limited amount of tickets in the Cheadle End available for this fixture. We recommend purchasing tickets for this game in advance to avoid disappointment – 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.
- Coming to the game on Saturday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- 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.
- Saturday’s game will be available for our overseas supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary with Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Audio commentary will also be available for our supporters located in the UK. Click here to buy a pass today!
Since we last met:
The reverse fixture between these two teams back in August formed part of a tough reintroduction to life in the Football League for County, as we suffered our fourth defeat in our opening five league games.
Despite taking the lead in the second half through a wonder-goal from Antoni Sarcevic, two goals in as many minutes for Mansfield saw the Stags emerge with all three points.
That result lifted them up to eighth place in the table, a position they still occupy today after a stop-start season for Nigel Clough’s side. It wasn’t until last month that the Stags were able to string together three straight wins in League Two, and even since then they have lost twice in their last three games.
There have been some alarmingly heavy defeats along the way too; losing 5-2 at home to both Salford and Swindon, as well as a 3-0 defeat at struggling Harrogate in November. It remains a squad and a team full of quality at this level however, and a recent 4-0 win away at high flying Carlisle showcased just what they’re capable of at their best.
It must be said they have been hit hard in recent months with injuries and suspension too, with as many as ten players missing Tuesday’s defeat at Northampton; their midfield looking particularly light on the night. It got even worse for them in the second half of that game too with midfielder Stephen Quinn receiving a straight red card, whilst full-back Stephen McLaughlin made his return from injury off the bench, only to be subbed off just 19 minutes later.
Despite that injury crisis, Clough has done an excellent job in managing what has been a threadbare squad in recent weeks, and a run of five wins and a draw in February gave the sense that his side were hitting form at the perfect time in the season. They’ve had a little wobble since then, but with their games in hand they remain in a great position to kick on now, and push for a return to League One for the first time since 2003.
One to watch:
One man who has scored against County at Edgeley Park once already this season is Mansfield forward, Danny Johnson. After falling out of favour at Field Mill last Summer, the 30-year-old spent the first half of the season out on loan at fellow League Two side Walsall and enjoyed great success, scoring 12 times in 22 appearances in League Two.
It was his goal that put the Saddlers 1-0 up in our Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie back in January, a game that the visitors would go on to win 2-1. His loan deal was due to expire later that month however, and he has since returned to Mansfield for the remainder of the campaign. Johnson has had to be patient for his opportunity since returning, but grabbed a goal of the bench in their win at Wimbledon last weekend, which earned him his first start on Tuesday night.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 87th competitive meeting between the two sides, with Mansfield just having the historical edge – winning 35 to County’s 31.
- County will be looking to end a run of five straight defeats against the Stags on Saturday. Our last victory against them came in April 2008, a 2-1 win at Edgeley Park en-route to promotion from League Two – Liam Dickinson scoring the winner from the penalty spot that day.
- County haven’t gone three consecutive home league games without scoring since December 2011, when we drew blanks against Southport, Gateshead and Alfreton Town in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
