Mansfield Town

Stags built on their 2-1 victory over Notts County a fortnight ago with a resounding 4-2 win against York City last week as two vastly different Stags' sides started the calendar year in brilliant fashion.

And manager Steve Evans revealed at Monday afternoon's news conference that the Central League clash will be used for senior players to improve their match sharpness. 

"It’s another opportunity for the supporters who are perhaps local or have got time off work or perhaps some of the retired gentlemen or ladies in the town to come and see them," the gaffer said.

"Giving supporters an idea of who will play, certainly Scott Shearer will be involved, Jamie McGuire, Jack Thomas, [James] Baxendale, Yoann Arquin will be involved, Paddy Hoban will be involved. 

"There’s no point in me saying to the supporters months ago that when I come in I’ll play these boys and then not play them. 

"There’ll be weeks that we don’t; there will be weeks where we think the minutes are up there but we pick these players based on their minutes in the last four games. When you look at the minutes in the last four games, all of the players that will go out there tomorrow need that."

Last week's victory over York City saw a young Stags' side display an incredibly impressive performance.

Defender Kieran Harrison struck the opener, before striker Tyler Blake dazzled his way to a treble in a fantastic first-half which finished 4-0 to Mansfield.

Although the Minstermen re-shaped and reduced the arrears via substitute Aaron Haswell and frontman Ryan Edmondson, they ultimately fell short of completing a stunning comeback in the six-goal thriller.

Ritchie Humphreys’ young Spireites resume League action this January after three consecutive fixtures in the Cup group stage. They secured a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest, a 0-0 draw against Shrewsbury, and another victory at home against Notts County (2-0).

Chesterfield’s reserves will now look to up the ante in the Central League, where they sit a place above the Stags in fourth. The two in-form sides have collected the same number of points (6), but the Derbyshire-based outfit possess a better goal difference of -2 as opposed to Mansfield’s -8.

Chesterfield’s last domestic league fixture was in December 2016 against Hartlepool United, which resulted in a 5-0 humbling away from home.

The Stags’ and the Spireites’ young guns have played against each other once this season, back in September when Chesterfield took the plaudits 4-2 in a League Cup clash.

Centre-back Laurence Maguire and veteran striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher stole the show with their respective doubles, while a youthful Mansfield side halved the deficit via the striking partnership of Zayn Hakeem and T. Blake.

Rainworth Miners’ Welfare

Kirklington Road,

Mansfield,

Notts,

NG21 0JY