Preview: Stags vs Cambridge United

19 February 2021

Next up for the Stags is a visit from league leaders Cambridge United on Saturday (3pm). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the match…

On-loan Blackpool forward Oli Sarkic has an ‘outside chance’ of making the squad following a recent thigh issue, as revealed by boss Nigel Clough in Friday morning’s news conference.

Defender Kellan Gordon (knee) will continue to be assessed in the lead-up to the fixture, whilst midfielder George Lapslie (hamstring) will miss out.

Right-back Joe Riley is a long-term absentee and will miss the game.

Cambridge are set to be without on-loan MK Dons midfielder Hiram Boateng for the weekend’s encounter.

Stags’ eight-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two came to an end on Wednesday evening, courtesy of a 3-2 loss to Bolton Wanderers.

Cambridge head into Saturday’s match at the summit of the league table, having amassed 49 points from 29 games. Last time out, the U’s drew 0-0 at home to Southend United.

Mansfield came out on top the last time the two sides met, with a Jamie Reid goal being enough to secure all three points at Abbey Stadium.

The game, played in front of just under 2,000 U’s fans, secured back-to-back away victories for Nigel Clough’s men.

The referee for Saturday’s game will be Sam Purkiss, assisted by Matthew Smith and Gareth Viccars. The fourth official will be James Bell.

Supporters wishing to watch this match live can do so on iFollow Stags. Please do not try to attend this match, as it will be played behind closed doors. Match passes are available at just £10, and can be purchased here.

A reminder that season ticket holders are able to watch this game free of charge, due to it being a home league game.

All season ticket holders' iFollow accounts have now been automatically granted access to the live video stream for home league games.

There is no need to input promo codes and supporters simply need to log into their iFollow account.

We have provided the EFL with season ticket holders' email addresses (data is being passed securely and purely for the purpose of providing access to iFollow).

It is therefore essential that season ticket holders use the same e-mail address registered on their iFollow account to the one which we have on our season ticket database (which is the e-mail from which you have previously received the promo codes for home league games).

If you already have an iFollow account registered using the same email as the club has for your season ticket account, you do not need to do anything else, simply log into your iFollow account on matchday.

If you have changed e-mail addresses to the one the club has for you on its database, or if you have any questions or queries about the above, please email ticketoffice@mansfieldtown.net.

In order for you to check whether you have been granted access to the Season Ticket Licence, it's a simple three-step process to do so:

Log in to iFollow on your club website
Click your name in the navigation bar to get to their 'My Account page'
Click the + sign next to 'Purchased Packages'

If you have been granted access, you will see 'Season Ticket – Mansfield Town’

We also suggest that new users familiarise themselves with their iFollow Stags account ahead of Saturday’s game, so that no issues arise on matchday when going to watch the game live.

Looking to watch the game on your tablet or mobile? You will need to download the new EFL iFollow app. Read more here.

iFollow Stags match commentary will be provided courtesy of commentators Martin Shaw and Dean Foulkes.

As ever, you can also follow the action live via our Twitter match updates, which can be found here.

The match centre on mansfieldtown.net will also contain Opta-populated updates, and can be accessed here.

A report of the match will be published on the club website following the full-time whistle, and post-match reaction will be available to view on mansfieldtown.net and iFollow Stags.

Follow us across our social media accounts to keep fully updated on all areas of a Stags’ matchday. Click the below links to redirect to the corresponding social media account.

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Match Reports

Report: Stags 0-3 Cambridge United

20 February 2021

Three second half goals subjected Mansfield Town to defeat against league leaders Cambridge United at One Call Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Stags were more than a match for the table toppers in the opening 45 minutes; however, two quick second-half goals took the game away from Nigel Clough’s side before a late strike sealed the points for the visitors.

Paul Mullin netted a brace with two close range finishes before substitute Harvey Knibbs sealed the win in the 90^th minute.

Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from Wednesday evening’s clash with Bolton Wanderers, with only one change on the bench.

Forward Oli Sarkic replaced James Clarke after recovering from a recent thigh injury.

Kellan Gordon’s knee injury meant that he remained sidelined alongside George Lapslie who has missed the last three games through a hamstring problem.

The Stags started with promise, asking questions of the visitors down the flanks.

However, it was Cambridge who found the back of the net first, only for it to be ruled out.

Joe Ironside rose highest to meet Kyle Knoyle’s cross seven minutes in, his header beat Aidan Stone but the forward was deemed to have fouled Farrend Rawson in the process.

Windy conditions at One Call Stadium played a part in the early stages of the match with both goalkeepers struggling with their distribution.

Jordan Bowery then nearly broke the deadlock on 23 minutes, after cutting in from the left channel. The forward found a yard of space but could only curl an effort just wide of the far post.

The game began to open up after the half hour mark with Harry Charsley going close for Nigel Clough’s side. The Irishman picked up a loose ball just outside the box and fired a strike narrowly wide.

Cambridge very nearly went ahead six minutes before half-time when Wes Hoolahan was left unmarked at the back post.

The veteran midfielder brought down a lofted cross and hit a low half-volley towards the bottom corner, yet Stone was more than a match to the strike and kept the scores level going into the break.

Mansfield struggled to muster any clear-cut chances in the first few minutes after the restart, despite much of the football being played in the visitors’ half.

Jamie Reid tried to play in Bowery in the 55^th minute but his through ball was too heavy for his teammate to reach.

The Stags were then made to rue their missed chances just moments later when Cambridge took the lead through Mullin.

A quick break from Mark Bonner’s side allowed Harrison Dunk to deliver into the six-yard box where the league’s top scorer tapped home from close range.

Ollie Clarke looked to respond instantly with a shot from the edge of the box, but it was easily dealt with by Callum Burton in the visitors’ goal.

It went from bad to worse for the Stags just minutes later when Mullin doubled his side’s advantage.

A floated cross found the forward in space at the back post and he hit a smart finish from a tight angle.

Substitute Jason Law looked to add some urgency into Mansfield’s play on 75 minutes when he latched onto a through ball on the edge of the box. However, Cambridge’s defence did well to recover and force a corner.

It was another substitute that created the Stags’ next chance with ten minutes left to play. Tyrese Sinclair whipped an inviting cross into the six-yard box from the right flank, but Reid’s header failed to find the target.

Cambridge added a third goal in the 90^th minute thanks to substitute Harvey Knibbs. The youngster drove a powerful strike directly at Stone who couldn’t stop it finding the back of the net.

Sinclair went close to finding a consolation goal with a fine free-kick late into injury time but he was denied by a diving save from Burton.

STAGS XI: Stone (GK), Sweeney, Rawson, Charsley (Sinclair 73’), Clarke ©, Bowery (Sarkic 89’), Maris, Perch, Quinn (Law 62’), Reid, McLaughlin.

UNUSED SUBS: Štěch (GK), O’Keeffe, Benning, O’Driscoll.

CAMBRIDGE XI: Burton (GK), Knoyle, Taylor ©, Hannant (Knibbs 79’), O’Neil (Drysdale 70’), Mullin, Dunk, Hoolahan, Okedina, May, Ironside.

UNUSED SUBS: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Iredale, Alese, Davies, Worman.

REFEREE: S. Purkiss

ASSISTANTS: M. Smith & G. Viccars

FOURTH OFFICIAL: J. Bell