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Match Previews

Match preview: Stags vs Middlesbrough

19 July 2017

Match Previews

Match preview: Stags vs Middlesbrough

19 July 2017

Mansfield Town welcome Championship favourites Middlesbrough to One Call Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.30pm kick-off) in their second pre-season friendly in as many days.

Stags are expected to field a side containing players who weren't involved in last night's 4-0 victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels. 

Nine players completed 90 minutes in South Yorkshire, whilst striker Jimmy Spencer and midfielder Jack Thomas both departed as second half substitutes. 

Manager Steve Evans said post-match he will 'chop and change' the Stags' line-up for each of this week's four pre-season matches. 

Winger Alex MacDonald remains the only injury concern, as he sat out Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday with a slight hamstring complaint. 

Boro will hope to hand a debut to record signing Britt Assombalonga, who joined the club for £15m from Nottingham Forest. The former Posh striker has trained this week following his move. 

Stags have enjoyed two worthwhile run-outs since returning from the pre-season tour of Malta. 

Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday resulted in a 3-2 defeat, however 23 first team players appeared for Steve Evans' men at One Call Stadium. 

Defenders George Taft and Rhys Bennett got on the scoresheet for the Stags. 

The boss then upped the ante on Tuesday evening as nine players completed their first 90 minutes of the pre-season campaign in a 4-0 victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels. 

Striker Danny Rose bagged a brace in the first half, before winger CJ Hamilton added two of his own after the break. 

Boro have thus far recorded a draw and a win from their two pre-season fixtures. 

They faced League One side Oxford United during their warm weather training camp in Portugal, which ended 0-0. 

Garry Monk's men's final game of the trip was against League Two side Chesterfield, and Boro ran out 2-0 winners. 

Frontman Cristhian Stuani put Boro ahead before striker Patrick Bamford stepped up in the second half to convert a penalty. 

The two sides haven't met since the 2007/08 season when Boro emerged as 2-0 victors in an FA Cup fourth round tie. 

Stags at the time were the lowest rank side still in the competition, and they ran their then-Premier League opponents close throughout the encounter. 

The North East side went ahead after 15 minutes when Don-Gook Lee steered an effort into the bottom corner, but Stags fought back and had chances of their own as the impressive Michael Boulding struck a shot against the bar before seeing a header well-saved by Mark Schwarzer in the Boro goal. 

However, Stags' skipper Jake Buxton deflected a George Boeteng cross into his own net to seal the tie in Boro's favour. 

Head-to-head record: W2 | D2 | L4

Ross Joyce will be the referee for the fixture and he will be assisted by Nigel Smith and Hristo Karaivanov. Andy Dallison will be the fourth official for the occasion. 

Mr Joyce's last game in charge of the Stags was our 2-1 win over Newport County in February 2017.

Stags' fans can purchase tickets by visiting our ticket office on Quarry Lane, or by calling us on 01623 482 482.

Alternatively, supporters can head to www.stagstickets.co.uk and purchase their tickets online.

Supporters are reminded that the Quarry Lane End will be closed for this fixture.

Prices are as follows:

Matchday prices: Adults £12 | Senior citizens and 17 and under £6

Middlesbrough supporters will be able to purchase tickets on the night of the game by paying in cash at the ticket booth outside the North Stand. 

Ticket prices for visiting fans are as above. 

The Sandy Pate Sports Bar is open now and they will be serving the matchday menu up until kick-off at 7.30pm. 

The matchday menu includes pies, burgers, hot dogs and chips.

Stags' fans with a ticket in the upper tier of the Ian Greaves Stand will have access to the Kevin Bird Suite to enjoy a pre-match drink from 5.30pm. The bar will be serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

For those who are unable to make Wednesday's game, you have a number of options to choose from in order to keep up-to-date with the events at One Call Stadium.

We'll be publishing blow-by-blow updates on both our official twitter feed and the match centre on mansfieldtown.net. 

To access our twitter feed, head to twitter.com/mansfieldtownfc and the match centre can be accessed by clicking here or by clicking the 'match centre' link on our home page.

Furthermore, full-match commentary will be available for subscribers on iFollow Stags from 7.20pm. To receive the commentary on your device, please sign up to iFollow prior to tonight's game. 

All post-match reaction will be published on our official website, www.mansfieldtown.net, and on iFollow Stags.


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