Our side will be hoping to record our first home win of the League Two campaign tomorrow, as Portsmouth make just their third-ever visit to One Call Stadium.
Five years ago, whilst Pompey were facing teams such as AC Milan in the UEFA Cup, we were at the start of a five-year exile outside the Football League.Â
But a remarkable transformation for both clubs since then, means that we go in to tomorrow’s match level on points with the South Coast side, in League Two.
TEAM NEWS:
Midfielder Anthony Howell is classed as 50/50 for tomorrow’s match following a slight hamstring pull that he sustained earlier this week.
Keiran Murtagh (knee) and Ian Deakin (shoulder) are both ruled out, but otherwise, manager Paul Cox has a full squad available for selection in tomorrow’s clash.
Portsmouth have no injury worries and could welcome back defensive-midfielder Johnny Ertl following his three-match suspension.
RECENT FORM:
Last Saturday heralded the first victories of the League Two campaign for both ourselves and Portsmouth.
Ollie Palmer’s strike earned us a hard-fought win at Wycombe, whilst Pompey were 3-0 victors over ten-man Morecambe at Fratton Park.
The two clubs are only separated in the League Two table by goal-difference at present. We currently occupy 13th position, whilst the South Coast side sit in 10th.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Our last meeting with Portsmouth came seven years ago, as we met in a League Cup Second Round clash at One Call Stadium.
Back then, Pompey, who were in the Premier League, ran out as hard-fought 2-1 winners in front of a near-capacity crowd.
Danny Reet scored for us, but Manuel Fernandes and Matt Taylor struck for the visitors, who included Andy Cole and Niko Kranjcar in their starting line-up.
Our only win against Pompey was in May 1977. A 2-0 home success essentially sealed our promotion to the second-tier for the only time in our history.
TICKETS:
Stags’ supporters will be able to buy tickets at the One Call Stadium Matchday Ticket Office, which will be open between 10.00am and 2.30pm.
Matchday prices are as follows:
£20: Adults
£15: Senior Citizens & Students
£10: Under 16s
FREE: Under 7s
Please be aware that there are NO CASH TURNSTILES in operation at One Call Stadium, so supporters MUST purchase a valid match ticket.
AWAY SUPPORTERS:
NO TICKETS will be on sale to visiting supporters at One Call Stadium tomorrow.
Pompey supporters, who aren’t already in possession of a valid match ticket, are strongly advised not to travel to the match.
Furthermore, visiting supporters will not be permitted to use the newly-refurbished Sandy Pate Bar at One Call Stadium.
Pompey supporters will be seated in the North Stand and should enter One Call Stadium via turnstiles 9-12.
Visiting supporters are also strongly recommended not to park in the retail park adjacent to the North Stand, as you may be clamped.
COMMENTARY:
Supporters can listen to full-match commentary on StagsPlayer, which starts at 2.55pm.
Commentary will also be available on Mansfield 103.2 (local radio), as part of their ‘Saturday Sport’ show, which begins at 1.00pm.
To subscribe to StagsPlayer, click here.Â
