Preview: Stevenage v Stags

11 November 2021

The Stags return to Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday 13 November with a trip to face Stevenage at Lamex Stadium.

Mansfield will be without defender James Perch for the remainder of the season after he fractured his skull in training.

Fellow defender Richard Nartey remains unavailable due to injury.

Midfielder Ryan Stirk returns to selection after he played in the 6-3 victory against Newcastle under-21s in the Papa John’s Trophy in midweek.

Full-backs Kellan Gordon (knee) and Elliott Hewitt (foot) are both doubts for the game.

Last Saturday’s match winner Rhys Oates (groin) will be assessed ahead of the game.

George Lapslie’s potential inclusion in the Stevenage squad is also in question after a thigh problem.

The Stags have won three consecutive games in all competitions after victories against Tranmere (League Two), Sunderland (FA Cup) and Newcaste under-21s (Papa John's Trophy).

Stevenage beat Cambridge United 1-0 (Papa John's Trophy) in midweek but were beaten 5-0 away at Newport in their last league outing.

The Hertfordshire club, have, however, lost only one league game at home this season.

The last time the two teams met Mansfield were 1-0 winners away at Lamex Stadium in April 2021. A Ryan Sweeney goal separated the sides on the day.

The referee for Saturday’s game is Christopher Sarginson.

He will be assisted by Michael Chard and Stuart Butler.

Mr. Sarginson last officiated the Stags away at Colchester United in February 2021 in a 2-2 draw. The game ended 2-2.

The Stags have received an allocation of 400 tickets for the game. Prices are as follows:

Adult: £22
Senior (60+): £20
Under-18: £14
Under-12: £8

Please note that children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Tickets are available to purchase from Stevenage on the day of the game but will see a £2 increase in each category.

The club have also received four pairs of wheelchair disabled and carer tickets for the game.

Tickets are available now, with the easiest method of purchase being online via stagstickets.co.uk. Tickets can also be purchased from the club's ticket office on Quarry Lane or by calling 01623 482 482 (option 1).

Our ticket office can no longer post tickets out to supporters as the deadline of close of play on Tuesday 09 November to do so has expired.

Tickets will be available online via stagstickets.co.uk until midnight on Thursday 11 November.

Tickets will go off sale from the One Call Stadium ticket office at midday on Friday 12 November.

Stevenage play at the Lamex Stadium, which is 117.1 miles away from One Call Stadium. The journey should take approximately two hours and 19 minutes when travelling by car, with the postcode for the stadium being SG2 8RH.

Stags' supporters will be housed in the South Stand, which holds a capacity of 1,500 and is the newest stand at the stadium.

Free matchday parking for 500 cars is available to fans at Fairlands Valley car park to the north of the ground. This is clearly signposted as you enter Stevenage from Junction 7 of the A1(M).

Please note that fans are prohibited from parking in nearby retail parks due to parking restrictions. There is nearby residential street parking available, along with a number of town centre Pay & Display car parks.

The Broadhall Suite is Stevenage's friendly bar, which opens at midday on matchday. A number of beers, wines, ciders and prosecco is available to purchase here.

Tea bars are located in each corner of the stadium, serving a variety of food and drink, hot and cold, before and throughout the game.

The Stags Supporters' Association will be providing family-friendly coach travel to the Lamex Stadium on matchday.

Prices for SSA coach travel are as follows:

SSA Amber Members £15

SSA Blue Members £20

Non SSA Members £25

Non SSA Members can join SSA on the day of travel and travel at members’ prices.

Coaches will be departing One Call Stadium at 10AM.

For coach travel enquiries and to book your space, contact the SSA on 07967 689597.

Unable to make it to the game on Saturday? You can follow all the action from Lamex Stadium live via our Twitter match updates from here.

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

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

Because of international weekend, supporters are eligible to watch Saturday's match for just £10 on iFollow Stags.

Commentary of the clash will be from Martin Shaw and Dean Foulkes.

Buy your match pass for just £10 here.

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 Previews

Match Reports

Report: Stevenage 1-2 Stags

13 November 2021

Ryan Stirk’s excellent second-half finish earned Mansfield their first away league win of the season as the youngster’s first Stags goal for the club sealed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Stevenage.

John-Joe O’Toole’s thumping header had edged the visitors into an early lead as the veteran defender scored his second goal in two games.

That was before Stevenage centre-back Scott Cuthbert nodded the hosts level in similar fashion.

Mansfield’s on-loan midfielder, Stirk, wriggled past his defender to clinch the Stags’ second consecutive away victory with a clinical finish.

Manager Nigel Clough named an unchanged starting XI from the team’s Emirates FA Cup triumph at the Stadium of Light a week ago.

Following his midweek hat-trick against Newcastle under-21s, striker Danny Johnson picked up an ankle injury, ruling him out of action for the game.

John-Joe O’Toole started his third consecutive game for the Stags as the new recruit continued his return to regular first-team football.

Stevenage were almost gifted a perfect start by Stephen McLaughlin’s misplaced pass inside seven minutes which played in full-back Luther James-Wildin. Fortunately for the Stags, experienced defender O’Toole had picked up a key position in front of goal and was able to clear his grounded cross on the slide.

James-Wildin instigated a swift counter-attack seven minutes later. The defender’s pass was knocked on by Elliott List to Jamie Reid whose volley appeared to beat Nathan Bishop before dribbling onto the inside of the post to be collected by a relieved Bishop.

Startled by their let off, Stags attacked immediately after to win a corner. Stephen Quinn’s delivery found its way to Oli Hawkins lurking on the edge of the box, who blasted narrowly over on the half-volley.

The Stags were handed a second chance from a set-piece two minutes later, an opportunity they gladly took.

McLaughlin’s deep free-kick into the box beat the Stevenage defence to find the rising head of O’Toole, whose towering header beat Adam Smith and clinched the lead on 18 minutes.

Since alluding to his goalscoring threat after his full-debut at Sunderland, the 33-year-old has now added a goal in each of his last two starts.

The Stags entered a period of control following the goal, recycling possession and waiting for Stevenage to provide an opening to advance.

That opening was soon crafted by Rhys Oates’ intelligent run in behind the Boro defence on 36 minutes.

Though the in-form striker guided his effort narrowly wide of the bottom corner having gone one-on-one with ‘keeper Adam Smith.

The Stags again came close to doubling their lead before the break. Some brilliant work from a grounded George Lapslie inside the box, scooped the ball into the path of George Maris whose powered shot took a touch off a defender to fly wide of the goal.

Mansfield were almost made to pay for their squandered chances as ex-Stag Jamie Reid struck the same post for the second time in the half inside stoppage time.

Following a clash with Terrance Vancooten, Lapslie was replaced by midfielder Ryan Stirk having picked up a shoulder injury.

Having begun the second period in lively fashion, Stevenage drew level in the 55^th minute. Arthur Reid’s floated corner-kick was attacked and nodded home by centre-back Scott Cuthbert.

Mansfield exemplified their determined spirit as they piled on the pressure to retake their lead on 65 minutes. The ball arrived to youngster Ryan Stirk inside the box who used his quick feet to dance past the defender and coolly place the ball into the left side of the goal. The midfielder’s display of technical ability and composure earned the on-loan Birmingham City man his first Stags goal since joining in the summer.

On-loan stopper Nathan Bishop denied a powered effort from Jake Reeves with a superb save to deny the hosts with ten minutes remaining.

The introduction of Farrend Rawson from the bench ensured Mansfield remained resolute in the dying embers to see out a crucial victory.

STAGS XI: Bishop, Hewitt, O‘Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin, Charsley, O. Clarke, Maris (Rawson 79’), Quinn, Lapslie (Stirk 53’), Oates (Sinclair 62’)

UNUSED SUBS: Shelvey, Forrester, Bowery, Gale

STEVENAGE XI: Smith, James-Wildin, Reeves, Cuthbert, List, Taylor, Vancooten, Read, Reid (Norris 69’), Melbourne, Barry (Lines 63’)

UNUSED SUBS: Anang, Coker, Prosser, Osbourne, Daly

REFEREE: Christopher Sarginson

ATTENDANCE: 2946 (535 Away)