Match Preview: Stevenage vs Mansfield Town

9 December 2022

Stevenage welcome fellow promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town to The Lamex Stadium for a crucial Sky Bet League Two clash…

Boro sit second in the table and just five points behind league leaders, Leyton Orient. After picking up an incredible nine wins from ten league games at The Lamex Stadium so far this campaign, Stevenage currently have the best home record in the league.

Last Friday, Boro put on arguably their best performance of the season, with a 5-0 thrashing over Barrow.

Mansfield Town were awarded a trip to Wembley Stadium at the end of last season, with a place in Sky Bet League One up for grabs. Unfortunately for the Stags, Port Vale won 3-0 on the day and Nigel Clough’s side remained in Sky Bet League Two. So far this campaign, Mansfield have put up a good fight in hopes of another promotion push. They sit seventh, having won ten from twenty league games.

Mansfield’s last few league fixtures have produced a mixed bag of results. Last weekend, The Stags hosted Colchester United and won 2-1 through a Will Swan equaliser and a last-minute winner from Lucas Akins. Before that, though, Clough’s side suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Harrogate Town. Will Swan is Mansfield top scorer this season, netting seven from eighteen matches.

Nigel Clough took over as Stags boss in November 2020 and has so far produced a 45.1% win-rate. He has previously managed Burton Albion, Sheffield United, and Derby County, so he has plenty of managerial experience. As a player, Clough scored over 100 goals for Nottingham Forest under his father, Brian Clough. He also appeared for Liverpool, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Burton Albion. Clough also has fourteen caps for England.

Mansfield and Stevenage have been very familiar with each other over the last decade, having met on nineteen occasions, with Boro winning six. The sides first met in The Conference back in 2008 on a day which proved successful for Stevenage legends, as Mitchell Cole, Michael Bostwick and Steve Morison all got their names on the scoresheet.

The first Football League encounter between the two clubs was in 2014 as Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale contributed to a 3-0 victory over The Stags at The Lamex Stadium. However, Boro have struggled against Mansfield in more recent times, failing to get one over on the Stags in the last five meetings.

Anthony Backhouse has been appointed Match Referee for tomorrow’s fixture, with Stephen Brown and Michael Webb as Assistants and Sam Purkiss as Fourth Official. Backhouse has dished out forty four yellow cards in fifteen games so far this campaign.

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Match tickets for Stevenage vs Mansfield Town start at £18 Adults, £15 Concessions, £10 Under 18s and £5 Under 12s.

Match Reports

Report: Stevenage 0-0 Mansfield Town

10 December 2022

Despite a hard-fought battle, both sides cancel each other out as it ends in a goalless draw at The Lamex Stadium...

It was a frosty Saturday afternoon, but thanks to the incredible grounds staff, Boro’s game was on, and fellow promotion hopefuls Mansfield were the opponents. Steve Evans named an unchanged starting eleven from last Friday’s 5-0 win over Barrow.

The first ten minutes were high tempo as both sides looked to open the scoring. Boro managed to find the back of the net due to an own goal, but Jamie Reid was in an offside position in the build-up. Stevenage looked to press high up the pitch when the Mansfield defence were on the ball.

Boro were under some pressure twenty minutes in, as Rhys Oates carried the ball down the left-wing and looked to create a chance. Luther James-Wildin, however, defended superbly and cleared the danger.

Rhys Oates looked to be the danger man for The Stags who sat just inside the play-off places. A dangerous cross into the box found the head of Oates who could only nod it into the hands of Taye Ashby-Hammond.

Boro were playing some nice football in and around the Mansfield area as they searched for an opener. The ball fell to Dean Campbell on the edge of the area whose left-footed effort deflected out for a corner.

The remainder of the first half was rather quiet as both sides cancelled each other out before the referee blew for half-time.

As the second half got underway, Stevenage looked the brighter side. Jake Reeves looked to play Jordan Roberts through on goal, but the Stags defence managed to scramble the ball clear.

Saxon Earley looked electric on the left-hand side as he skipped past two defenders just before the hour mark and tried his luck with his right-foot, but former Boro keeper Christy Pym denied the youngster’s effort.

Both sides were battling hard but neither found a way through and it was time for Steve Evans to make his first substitutions of the evening. Danny Rose, Arthur Read and Jake Taylor replaced Jamie Reid, Alex Gilbey and Dean Campbell respectively.

Just five minutes remained and still neither side managed to open the scoring. There were fierce battles all over the pitch but both side lacked clear-cut chances.

The ball was played into the box with just minutes remaining as Luke Norris tried to get on the end of it, but his sliding effort fizzed past the far post.

The Fourth Official’s board indicated three minutes of added time as Mansfield looked to see out the draw against the side sitting second in the table. No team was able to make the difference as the referee blew his final whistle. Now onto Tuesday as attention turns to The Papa John’s Trophy in Portsmouth.

Attendance: 3301 including 640 away supporters.